Black voters wanted reform

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.

The majority of BME voters were in sharp contrast to the rest of the UK’s voters which witnessed a dramatic win for the ‘No vote’ 69% no against 31% yes.

Although the vote was lost I’m encouraged by two important facts: First BME communities were not fooled by the ‘No vote’ scaremongering that voting yes would aide the British national party. Secondly, I’ve always believed that the struggle for social, racial and political justice ensures that much of the political thinking of BME voters is progressive. Civil rights icon Rev Jesse Jackson often tells Black audience both here and in the USA, that at times ‘we might be the voting minority, but more often than not we are the moral majority’.

Our job here at OBV is to applaud our communities first for engaging and also for taking non-party political principled stand.

With the support of our communities and progressives within all mainstream parties we pledge to increase both civic and political BME participation and representation in all our democratic institutions.

Also watch OBV AV rally.

Simon Woolley