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Scotland Has Elected This Woman Politician Of Pakistan Descent As Its First Woman Of Color MP

Kaukab Stewart and Pam Gosal made Scottish history on Saturday May 8 after they became the first ever women of color elected to join the Scottish Parliament in its 22-year history.

Sissi Yi Hu

Sissi Yi Hu

— 2 min read
Scotland Has Elected This Woman Politician Of Pakistan Descent As Its First Woman Of Color MP
Photo by Getty, Kaukab Stewart’s Instagram account: @kaukabstewartsnp

Kaukab Stewart, a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), made history on Saturday May 8 after she became the first woman of color to be elected to join the Scottish Parliament in its 22-year history.

Stewart, a 53-year-old former teacher who is a Muslim and of Pakistani descent, and will be representing Glasgow at Holyrood.

Scotland's First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon (L) congratulates SNP candidate Kaukab Stewart after she was elected MSP for Glasgow Kelvin in the Scottish Parliamentary Election, in Glasgow.
Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon (L) congratulates SNP candidate Kaukab Stewart after she was elected MSP for Glasgow Kelvin in the Scottish Parliamentary Election, in Glasgow. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is without doubt an honour to be elected as the first woman of colour to the Scottish parliament,” Stewart said during her acceptance speech. “It has taken too long, but to all the women and girls of colour out there: the Scottish parliament belongs to you too, so whilst I may be the first, I will not be the last.”

“Party politics aside, this is a special and important moment,” Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted after Stewart’s win. “I could not be prouder right now.”

Later on in the day, Pam Gosal, who is from an Indian Sikh background, was elected as a Conservative MP for the West of Scotland region.

Gosal, a businesswoman, said it was a “privilege” to be the first woman Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) from an Indian Sikh background, adding that “we have certainly made history.”

Scottish National Party's (SNP) newly elected Kaukab Stewart arrives for registration at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh.
Scottish National Party’s (SNP) newly elected Kaukab Stewart arrives for registration at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh. (Photo by Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images)

Prior to the 2021 election, there were a total of four MSPs of color, all men of Scots-Pakistani heritage, according to the BBC.

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