News

Now the dust has settled after one of the most acrimonious political debates for a long time, one element has become abundantly clear in analysing the outcome of the Alternative Vote: Black communities wanted reform.

The results are really unequivocal: when we look at the most BME populated boroughs in the country-Haringey, Islington, Southwark Tower Hamlets, Walsall and Newham, for example all voted against a huge national trend and voted for the Alternative Vote.

Newt Gingrich puts his hat in the ring for the US 2012 race to be President

Wealdon Tories use racial slurs against Chinese elected councillors

Wealden Conservatives have been exposed today by the Kent and Sussex Courier for racial slurs on four Chinese Lib Dem councillors.

OBV Alumni of the Magistrate Shadowing Scheme Eli Anderson writes exclusively for OBV about his new publishing venture and creative work an illustrated book called Vircheu and the Bow.

This is Vircheu’s first in a series of adventures. In this story, Vircheu as a boy learns the secrets of his father’s skills, as the Grand Master Bowman. Though little Vircheu struggles, he learns why his skill is so important to the village and the family. Vircheu’s father proudly teaches his son the secrets of the world around him.

Bradford police officer Kashif Ahmed, 33, and his co-accused, Shamim Khan, 47, dramatically had all charges against them dismissed by a Judge at Bradford Crown Court after revelations about the way officers from West Yorkshire police force investigated the case.

Both officers were charged with fraud and deception.

OBV alumni and former member of the 2010 Parliamentary Ambassador Scheme Ellin Joseph writes exclusively for OBV about her experience of standing in the recent local elections.

Rita Patel, founder of Operation Black Vote and the Peepul Centre, has been elected to serve the people of the Humberstone and Hamilton as Councillor on Leicester City Council with a clear majority of 2263 votes.

OBV congratulates Cllr Mimi Harker OBE on her election as Mayor of Amersham. Harker, also re-elected as a Councillor has been a campaigner on both the national and local stages. She has worked tirelessly to increase the number of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic (BAME) women in politics as part of the BAME Women’s Taskforce with the Government Equalities Office. Harker is also a seasoned local campaigner, working on issues such as the environment and to help save the local post office. Mimi is the first Asian Mayor of Amersham.

In politics there are very few people you can describe as a thoroughly honest and decent man. A man who has so much integrity you almost don’t expect them to be in politics. The first African Mayor of Southwark Mayor Tayo Situ was such a man. Sadly he passed away on the 9th May from an illness he was carrying.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s speech on 10 May 2011  to mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the formation of the Refugee Council in the UK.

The UN Convention on Refugees marked a turning point in the international community’s attitude towards the plight of displaced peoples.