AV: Making sure the Black voice is heard

With just a week to go until the referendum on the Alternative Vote, last night OBV brought together politicians and leaders to send a rallying cry to our communities that they should take this once in a generation chance to change our politics for the better. 

Guests for the OBV – YES TO AVrally heard from, the Business Secretary Vince Cable, Katie Ghose, Chair of the Yes to Fairer Votes Campaign, Baroness’s Oona King and Meral Hussein-Ece, David Lammy MP, Brij Mohan Gupta of the Hindu Cultural and Heritage Society UK and GLA Assembly Member, Murad Qureshi. 

They all spoke about AV, as small but significant change to the way in which we elect our politicians and the benefits this would bring. 

They said issue within the black community would be put on the agenda as under the AV system of voting candidates will have to appeal to the broadest base in order to gain majority support.  They all agreed that AV is also an anti-extremist system, which means that fringe parties would be unlikely to gather any substantial amount of votes.

A very refreshing discussion came during the question and answer session, when a young black man stood up and asked the panel, how AV would help to engage those who are currently marginalised or have turned their back on formal politics.  He asked would the new system make politicians ‘more caring’.

Katie Ghose answered making the case that casting votes in terms of preferences would certainly ensure that marginalised groups would benefit as politicians would be compelled to hear views across the whole constituency, and be forced to give better service to the electorate over their term in office.  

Many of the panel agreed that while AV is not a solution to all the issues facing the country,  the hope is that as individuals are reached out to, people will be able to engage more with the process. 

There was definitely an appetite for reform in the air last night, the politicians listened and took on board what was said.  Now all we have to do is make sure that we use this week to carry on taking about AV and the benefits, and make sure that the Black voice is heard next week and for generations to come. 

Jyoti Bhojani

Picture: OBV Director Simon Woolley, Baroness Oona King, Baroness Meral Hussein-Ece, Katie Ghose, Vince Cable and David Lammy MP.