Elected leaders and representatives across democracies tend to be old, wealthy, male and belong to the ethnic majority of their respective countries. This lack of diversity is a problem: it suggests that those who govern are out of step with the broader society that they seek to represent.
But following the UK general election, parliament is becoming more like the electorate. A record-breaking 335 new MPs have entered the House of Commons. This dramatic change of personnel has ushered in a parliament that looks very different.
There are more women and more people from minority ethnic backgrounds in the Commons than ever before. Now, 14% of MPs have an ethnic minority background, compared to 18% in the general population. The proportion of women in the Commons now stands at 40%.
