Theresa May celebrates BME MPs in Parliament

Parliamentarians and campaigners including Home Secretary Theresa May and Sol Campbell attended a reception at the Houses of Parliament last night to celebrate the historic number of Black and Minority MPs (BME).

The OBV event recognised the increase of BME MP’s from just five in 1996 when their organisation began, to a current record number of 41, which is 6.3% of all MP’s.

Other speakers includedGovernment Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford, Chair of Home Affair’s select committee Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP; Shadow International Development Secretary Diane Abbott; Culture Secretary Sajid Javid; Shadow Equality Minister Kate Green; and Baroness Ruby McGregor Smith.

At the event OBV’s Director Simon Woolley said:

Today we celebrate a record number of BME MPs in parliament - 41. British politics and British society greatly benefits when we can utilise diversity’s teaming talent pool. That’s why today we are announcing that in the months ahead we will begin a new MP and business shadowing scheme"

He continued:

Politicians such Clive Lewis MP, as well as former Ministers Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Helen Grant MP came through the talent pools of OBV. Delivering greater representation helps ensure that all communities have a voice and a real sense of belonging."

Speaking at the event, Home Secretary Rt. Hon Theresa May said:

Eighteen years ago, when I first entered Parliament, I looked across the green benches around me and saw a chamber that was too white, too male, and with too many people from the same walk of life. Thanks to the fantastic work of organisations like Operation Black Vote there is a record number of black and ethnic minority MPs, more women than ever before, and an increasing number of openly gay MPs.

But we still have so much further to go in ensuring that Britain is a place where all people – no matter who they are or where they come from – have the opportunity to succeed.“

Mitee CEO Baroness Ruby McGregor Smith also attending the event said:

I'm delighted to be celebrating today, the record number of Black and Minority Ethnic members of parliament. Truth is whether it is politics or business, ensuring real opportunities at every level, for women and BME communities, will give them a greater sense of belonging and make our economy stronger. It is my hope that everyone in the UK has the opportunity to realise their own aspirations."

BME MPs in attendance were Diane Abbott, Labour, Hackney North and Stoke Newington; Adam Afriyie, Conservative, Windsor; Dawn Butler, Labour, Brent South; James Cleverly, Conservative, Braintree; Helen Grant, Conservative, Maidstone and The Weald; Sajid Javid, Conservative, Bromsgrove; Rupa Huq, Labour, Ealing Central and Acton; David Lammy, Labour, Tottenham; Clive Lewis, Labour, Norwich South; Alan Mak, Conservative, Havant; Seema Malhotra, Labour, Feltham and Heston; Chi Onwurah, Labour, Newcastle upon Tyne Central; Kate Osamor, Labour, Edmonton; Virendra Sharma, Labour, Ealing Southall; Tulip Siddiq, Labour, Hampstead and Kilburn; Chuka Ummuna, Labour, Streatham; Shailesh Vara, Conservative, North West Cambridgeshire; Keith Vaz, Labour, Leicester East.

Ashok Viswanathan