Keralite Eric Sukumaran from Varkala aims to become first Malayalee-origin MP in UK

LONDON June 24: Eric Sukumaran, a Keralite based in London, is looking to make history by becoming the first Malayalee-origin MP in the UK.

Eric is the Conservative Party’s candidate from Southgate and Wood Green, in London, for the July 4 general election. And if elected, the 38-year-old will become the first person of Malayalee origin to sit in the House of Commons. The result will be announced on July 5th at 3am.

Raised in northeast London, Eric is the son of Attingal-native Joni and Anita Sukumaran, from Varkala. Father’s hometown is Attingal Anchuthengu and mother is from Srinivasapuram near Sivagiri.

Southgate and Wood Green is a constituency of the House of Commons in the UK Parliament. Further to the completion of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, it will first be contested at the 2024 general election. This is an ethnically diverse seat which showed strong support for Remain in the 2016 EU referendum.

Eric Sukumaran (Conservative) will be contesting against Labour candidate Bambos Charalambous, Liberal Democrats’ Lauren Fulbright, Green Party’s Charith Gunawardena, Workers Party’s Geoff Moseley, Reform UK’s Lucy O’Sullivan and TUSC’s Karl Vidol.

“My maternal grandfather, Narayanan Viswambaran, arrived in England on July 20, 1969, the same day that man first walked on the Moon! He had very little in terms of possessions, and just two generations later, his grandson is running for parliament,” says Eric, speaking to The New Indian Express.

“I have always wanted to contribute to this country that gave my family so much. I am a Conservative because I believe in its core principles of individual freedom, respect for tradition and the constitution, and the belief in business as the driver of prosperity,” the renewable energy entrepreneur said.

An ardent follower of Kerala politics, he says, “My father and I have been discussing it constantly for the last 30 years.” Eric adds: “I am aware of all the moves by the LDF and the UDF! I drew a lot of inspiration from Kaviyad Divakara Panicker, a politician I knew and was fond of as a child. He was from my father’s family and a clever politician of great integrity and personal popularity.”

Eric brings a wealth of experience from the private sector, government, and international institutions. He is a former civil servant who worked on integrating health and social care at the local level, as well as on international climate treaties. He moved on to the World Bank where he has worked on economic development and climate-related assistance across Africa. He has also run his own renewable energy development and advisory business, which operates in the UK and internationally. He is passionate about supporting local businesses, preserving our green belt, and making sure solutions that reduce emissions don’t place the burden on taxpayers.

Having grown up in north east London, frequently visiting family and friends in the constituency, Eric took a big leap and moved to America to attend the University of Pennsylvania before moving to work in Singapore and New York, where he met his wife, Lindsay. He moved back home 14 years ago.

Upon being selected for the new Southgate and Wood Green seat, Eric said, “Southgate and Wood Green is a wonderful and diverse place that I’ve known with great fondness since childhood. I am touched and honoured to be the Conservative candidate. In the short time we have before the election, I cannot wait to meet as many constituents as possible. I pledge to work tirelessly for them should they place their trust in me and send me to Parliament.

“Straight after my selection, I was delighted to hit the ground running campaigning in Southgate with the Conservative party Chairman, Richard Holden.”

Chair of Southgate and Wood Green Conservatives Shyamala Lennon said: “We are really pleased to have in Eric an experienced candidate who has chosen to enter politics after a career in both the private and public sector. Eric will bring real life experience and practical ideas to public life at a time when it is sorely needed. With trust in politics at an all time low, Eric will bring his all his considerable energy to win the voters’ trust after they have been repeatedly let down by a Labour MP and a Labour Council.”