3 PIO MPs get UK front-bench roles

PM Burnham’s cabinet rejig has brought 3 PIO MPs into key front-bench roles, while 2 ministers of Indian origin have returned to the backbenches.

London: UK PM Andy Burnham has announced a cabinet reshuffle, with three Indian-origin Labour MPs securing front-bench roles in government. Kanishka Nara­yan has been appointed Mini­s­ter of State for AI, while Satvir Kaur has become Parl­iamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities). Harpreet Uppal has been named Assistant Whip.

The appointments increase the representation of Indian-origin MPs in Labour’s front bench. Along with Uma Kumaran, a Hindu MP of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage appointed a junior minister in the Foreign Office, the front bench now includes two Hindu and two Sikh ministers.

The reshuffle saw Seema Malhotra, the former Indo-Pacific minister, and Preet Kaur Gill, the former junior health minister, move to the backbenches, both close allies of former PM Keir Starmer. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy retained her cabinet position.

Born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Narayan moved to Wales at 12 and was elected MP for Vale of Glamorgan in July 2024. He previously served in the Dept for Science, Innovation and Technology. Kaur, MP for Southampton Test since 2024, holds responsibilities for safeguarding, equalities and tackling violence against fairer sex. Uppal, MP for Hudders­field, was elected in 2024 and worked on PM’s Greater Man­chester mayoral campaign.