UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled his new Cabinet, elevating three Indian-origin Labour MPs to front-bench positions in a move that strengthens the representation of British Indians in the government.
According to a report by NDTV, Kanishka Narayan has been appointed Minister for Artificial Intelligence, while Satvir Kaur has taken on ministerial responsibilities spanning equalities and the Home Office.
Harpreet Uppal has been named Assistant Whip, a key parliamentary role responsible for maintaining party discipline and coordinating legislative business.
The latest appointments mean the Labour front bench now includes four ministers of South Asian heritage. Alongside Uma Kumaran, a Hindu MP of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage appointed as a junior minister in the Foreign Office, the government now has two Hindu and two Sikh ministers serving in front-bench positions, NDTV has reported.
The reshuffle also saw Seema Malhotra, who previously served as Indo-Pacific minister, and former junior health minister Preet Kaur Gill move back to the backbenches. Both had been regarded as close allies of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, as reported by NDTV.
Meanwhile, Lisa Nandy, whose father was born in Kolkata, has retained her Cabinet role as Culture Secretary.
Kanishka Narayan to Lead AI Portfolio
Born in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, Kanishka Narayan moved to Wales with his family at the age of 12. He later studied at Eton College, the University of Oxford and Stanford University before entering politics.
Narayan was elected as the Labour MP for Vale of Glamorgan in July 2024 and served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from September 2025.
He has now been promoted to the newly created position of Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, serving jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, as reported by NDTV.
Satvir Kaur Takes on Equalities and Home Office Roles
Labour MP Satvir Kaur, who represents Southampton Test, was first elected to Parliament in July 2024.
The daughter of Punjabi parents who ran a saree shop in Southampton, Kaur has now been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. She will also serve as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office, overseeing areas including safeguarding, violence against women and girls, and equalities, NDTV has reported.
She previously served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office from September 2025 until July 2026. After taking maternity leave between September 2025 and February 2026, she returned to government earlier this year.
Harpreet Uppal Named Assistant Whip
Harpreet Uppal, the Labour MP for Huddersfield, has been appointed Assistant Whip following her election to Parliament in July 2024.
Party whips play a crucial role in managing parliamentary business, ensuring MPs attend key votes and vote in line with the party's position. Before entering Parliament, Uppal worked on Andy Burnham's Greater Manchester mayoral campaign in 2017, as reported by NDTV.
The appointments reflect the growing prominence of Indian-origin politicians within the Labour government, with several now holding influential roles across key departments.