EALING Southall MP, Virendra Sharma, has hosted the 1928 Institute in a briefing about the Indian diaspora and its attitudes towards the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy and racism.

The research was carried out by the Indo-British All-Parliamentary Group (Indo-British APPG).

The 1928 Institute is an organisation based at Oxford University which represents British Indians.

The 1928 Institute describe themselves as, "a vibrant, pluralistic, and apolitical institution, we want to research and represent British Indians and Indian affairs."

Mr Sharma, Chair of the Indo-British APPG, described their research findings as "fascinating, broke some stereotypes and showed how little the media looks into tropes that are just easier to repeat."

Following the research findings, the 1928 Institute advised the following domestic-level Recommendations: "To add cultural nuance to physical and mental healthcare (guidance and provision), to train all healthcare professionals in recognising the differing symptoms within our community and ring-fenced capital and resources in suicide prevention, especially in regards to men."

The 1928 Institute also proposed recommendations on an international-level: "To create a task-force that feeds into the Indo-British trade deal.

"The objective of which is to ensure a fair and sustainable outcome, including accommodating for the needs of India's farmers and climate change concerns."

This meeting could be the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between both the 1928 Institute and the Indo-British APPG.

The Labour MP said: "I am looking forward to working more with the 1928 Institute over the coming months and years, and we are already exploring opportunities for collaboration."