Race equality is not a fringe issue

In an article for OBV News magazine prominent party members and commentators explore the role of BME MPs and their accountability to minority groups.

Should they unite to fight on race issues, and should they form a British equivalent of the US Congressional Black Caucus?

In response to OBV News Sadiq Khan MP says our twenty seven minority ethic MPs should take a frontbench approach to race equality.

Sadiq Khan MP, said: 

“We all have multiple, cross-cutting identities: class, gender, sexuality and religious belief. All coincide and overlap.

As any BAME person will tell you, ethnicity remains a huge factor in our identities and experiences. But I don’t think over-rides all other considerations.

For instance, the Tory candidate for Sedgefield at the recent General Election was of Asian origin. But he was also educated at Eton and Oxford. Can we really presume he has more in common with British Asians from deprived backgrounds than he does with similarly privileged individuals?

Just as citizens have multiple identities, so do MPs in their job. We are local champions, community activists, national campaigners and policy makers.  Each Member of Parliament will come to the Commons with their own background and experiences.

So of course having representatives from marginalised or minority groups is important – it can directly affect policy agendas. It’s no coincidence that with record numbers of women in Parliament, the last Government made such huge progress on issues like child care, maternity leave, domestic and sexual violence, and forced marriages.

As an Asian, an ethnic minority, and a Muslim MP, I believe I am well placed to articulate some of the common experiences of our communities. And I try to do so. But I am aware that I will only partially represent the experiences of, say, a Muslim woman, or a gay Asian man.

And as a local MP it is also my job to champion my constituents’ concerns, regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender.

Stephen Timms MP represents one of the most diverse constituencies in the UK. He does a great job but he is not of an ethnic minority. That is not to say I don’t understand the symbolic importance of having for more BAME Member of Parliament.

What we do not want to do is make racial equality a fringe issue. It should be mainstream because an unequal society affects all its members. Measures like the Labour government’s Equality Act did just this. It put equality at the heart of government. I think it’s a real shame the new government doesn’t seem to consider the equalities brief of much importance.

BAME representatives must fight to ensure racial equality remains a mainstream issue, whilst drawing on the own experiences and networks to voice the concerns and fight for the rights of BAME communities”.

Click here to read the full story in OBV News:

See what other prominent party members say. Page 10.

What do you think? Add your comment below.