By CGTN's Zhang He

The UK general election will see thousands of candidates contest a total of 650 constituency seats. This year, there are seven parliamentary candidates of Chinese origin. CGTN's Zhang He met Edward Yi He, who has stood twice as a parliamentary candidate in UK elections.

A Chinese-born candidate is running for a seat in the British parliament. /CGTN Photo

He is the Conservative Party candidate for Leicester East, one of the most ethnically diverse constituencies in Britain.

Born in China, He came to study in the UK 13 years ago, and now works as an advanced manufacturing engineer in Leicester, in the East Midlands. The 31-year-old is not new to British politics. 

Edward Yi He canvasses on the high street in the constituency of Leicester East ahead of the UK general election on June 8. /CGTN Photo

“Two years ago, I stood in my old work place in Aberavon, South Wales, so it is my second time standing in the UK general election. I think as a foreign-born migrant, we do need to participate in the public life, in politics,” said He. “Only in this way, it helps us integrate with British society. And only in this way, the British public can see our commitment to being part of their society.” 

Edward Yi He, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Leicester East /CGTN Photo

Life has not always been easy for He. He was given voluntary redundancy by Tata Steel in 2013, and suffered unfair treatment targeting ethnic minorities. Being a parliamentary candidate, he wants to make a change by getting involved in British politics. 

“Three years ago, I was a victim of hate crime in Leicester, and I had to report the incident to the police. The incident happened on a public bus. I was really aggressively shouted [at], 'go back to your country. This is Britain, this is not your country.' So I do feel that was a big shock. I was emotional and physically hurt by that incident,” recalled He.

He received support from his British colleagues and friends after the incident, which made him become even more active in public life. He said it shows his commitment and contribution to local society. 

Edward Yi He will take on Labour veteran Keith Vaz in Leicester East at 2017 UK general election. Vaz has been elected as MP for Leicester East since 1987. /CGTN Photo

“The prospect of having a Chinese candidate is very good for the Chinese community. It is very good for China,” said Alexander Garcia, a mining engineer who works in Leicestershire. “It's an actual fact to say that, particularly if elected, that we recognize the contribution that foreign individuals, Chinese individuals made to the UK and we're relaxed enough to have such individuals to stand for us and represent our views in Parliament.”

He is just one of the seven candidates with Chinese origins. Whatever the outcome might be, it encourages more British-Chinese to voice their concerns in the British political process.