Back in the 1980s, a new generation of radical black leaders like Bernie Grant and Sharon Atkin emerged in the Labour Party, determined not only to increase minority representation, but also to commit the Party to socialist policies. The struggle for Black Sections took place against the backdrop of uprisings within the inner cities in 1981 and 1985.
Thirty years on, although the representation of BAME communities has improved in parliament and on local councils, it continues to lag behind the proportions in the general population and among the Party’s membership, and the evidence of racial disadvantage is all around us, in employment, education and housing. Continue reading
Before the party begins selecting candidates for the European elections in 2014 a serious effort needs to be made to attract candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds. The under-representation of ethnic minorities in the EU parliament has reached such a height that it casts serious doubt on the representativeness of the chamber. The UK sends 72 MEPs to Brussels and Strasbourg, four from ethnic minority backgrounds. Out of 736 MEPs, 15 of them come from ethnic minority backgrounds. We could squeeze them all onto a minibus. 