Coalville community figure Kirat Sandhu has written a column for Coalville Nub News addressing the subject of 'identity politics'.

Kirat has encouraged local residents to learn more about other cultures and is also assisting North West Leicestershire's Conservative candidate Craig Smith's election campaign.

He also helped to organise the Vaisakhi celebration at Hall Lane Methodist Church in Whitwick, which attracted more than 300 people.

Kirat writes: "I am a proud British Sikh and I'm even more proud to be part of a community that embraces diversity and different cultures with open arms.

"A different upbringing or culture does not mean you get singled out or sidelined because you're a 'minority'. Instead, it's an opportunity for mutual learning, growth, and genuine understanding of each other's cultures, religions, and ways of life. All this ongoing 'divide & conquer' rubbish is nothing but identity politics, which we should all avoid taking part in.

"Not everyone has the chance to fully understand other cultures or religions, and sometimes, Google can be overwhelming. That's why I've organised an event to educate and remind everyone about the power of open communication in bringing together diverse cultures.

"As Rishi Sunak said in one of his speeches: 'I'm proud to be the first British Asian PM, but I'm even prouder that it's just not a big deal' - because, why should it be? Britain has evolved, the so-called 'minority' has integrated with the so-called 'majority' and, you know what? Together we are all achieving great things!

"Let's not fall into the trap of identity politics and always remember, we aren't some tick box exercise, nor are we some acronym - we're part of the collective, driving positive change and making a difference."