Labour in danger of losing Black Voters

The Labour party has been accused once again of taking the Black voters for granted.

With two by-elections gone and two to go BME labour party members are furious that they keep being passed over either by local party activist or central party bosses when it comes to standing in winnable seats.

Labour party activist say that:

There are very limited number of seats in which we could be serious contenders for selection, but time and time again we are being passed over for our white colleagues.

In the vacant seat of Rotherham, OBV alumni and Cllr Maroof Hussain, who would have been the ‘red hot’ favourite was not even shortlisted in an area he has served with distinction in the cabinet. Party bosses have chosen two white women to be shortlisted.

Maroof Hussain stated:

How is it I’m selected for a short list in an area I have few connections with - Middlesbrough but one where I’d possible be the favourite I’m not even on the shortlist?

The same was felt my many in the selection process in Croydon North. There some argued that the strongest BME candidates never made it to the shortlist. However, in an ironic twist Black MP’s have been ordered to go down and help fight to secure the seat because they fear without them Respect party candidate Lee Jasper could snatch victory away from them.

Head of BAME Labour Kameljeet Jandu laments the ongoing situation:

There is a real danger that the Black vote will desert the Labour party if winnable Westminster seats keep by passing BME candidates by.

Although the majority of BME voters have traditionally voted Labour that might be changing.

In the last election the Conservative Party trounced Labour -10-3 -when it came to new BME MP’s entering Westminster. And just last week former Party Chair Sayeeda Warsi wrote in the Sun newspaper that her party must, ‘win minorities, to win majorities’.

Labour’s BAME group are seeking an urgent meeting with labour bosses to discuss the matter.

Simon Woolley