BME voters have the power to decide the fate of the next general election

POLITICAL parties should be tackling the rise in inequalities between minorities and indigenous voters if they want to engage with Asians and other ethnic groups, a leading race campaigner has said.

Simon Woolley, the director and one of the founders of pressure group Operation Black Vote, which works to increase political participation among BME communities, said he believes that politicians should be doing much more to engage with black and Asian voters

because they have the power to decide the fate of the next general election."

However, that must not be taken for granted, Woolley told Eastern Eye, adding that

our communities do not have the luxury not to vote"

because our wellbeing revolves around our engagement in politics.
Speaking about the elections, which are 16 months away, the commissioner for race on the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

All parties are aware that the BME vote is going to be vital to many political contacts, in many individual seats it's critical.

The race is going to be so tight and so close, we can sway the debate. Tackling the rise in inequality should be a priority. There's a race penalty whether we are middle management or ready for a senior position or an unemployed Pakistani or Bangladeshi person in terms of opportunities.

Talent needs to be recognised, people need to be promoted to higher positions. BME talent should not be held back."

As rival parties begin to push out their election pledges to convince the public to back them in the ballot box, against a growing anti-immigration rhetoric, Labour have insisted that they represent all communities, regardless of race, religion or background.

Sadiq Khan, shadow minister for London, and Labour MP for Tooting, announced last week that the party is set to target outer London with a "suburban" mindset in the upcoming elections.

It will focus on the cost of living, rising travel fares, the housing crisis, energy bills and low wages as well as aiming to convince voters they are a "one nation party."

Khan told EE:

We must not, and do not take London's diverse ethnic minority communities for granted.

Many BME communities in London have traditionally supported Labour, but will only continue to do so if we make ourselves relevant to their lives and concerns. This means working hard to improve local communities, ensuring our party properly represents London's diverse communities and having policies that appeal to BME communities."

And the latest research from Project Blueprint by Lord Ashcroft, the former Conservative party treasurer and pollster, has revealed that for the Tories to win outright, they will

need the votes of everyone who supported them last time, plus practically everyone who is even prepared to think about doing so next time.

He said:

The numbers being attracted to the Tories are not even enough to replace those going in the opposite direction,"

More than a third of 2010 Conservative voters say they would not vote for the party in an election tomorrow,"

EE has reported previously how crucial Asian votes are in marginal seats, where the number of ethnic voters is equal to or more than the majority of the winning candidate.

Reena Kumar, Eastern Eye