General Election Road Show launches

OBV arrives in Northampton South beginning a series of meetings that will see the campaign going to towns and cities including Milton Keynes, Croydon, Bristol SS and Southgate Enfield

Southwark N. & Bermondsey is one of the most marginal seats in the country where the African, Asian and Caribbean votes can decide who wins and who loses. The majority (see notes to editor) held in this constituency is 744 and the black population 3,456. This Question Time will give the black community in this area what could be the last opportunity to quiz the candidates on isuues. Topics will most likely include housing or unemployment, education or racism.

The meeting will be held at 4PM at NACO, Community Complex, Old St Mary's School, Clare St, NN1 3JF on Saturday 31st March.

The candidates in the local area for the main parties are: Andrew Simpson (Lib Dems)Tony Clarke MP (Labour), Shailesh Vara (Conservative).

Simon Woolley from Operation Black Vote said: 'In the run up to the election this road show will demonstrate the power of the black vote in key seats up and down the country. In seats like this families in one street are enough in number to swing the election. MP and parties ignore us at their peril.'

Bert Cuff from Northampton African Caribbean Centre added: 'The black people of Northampton are sick and tired of waiting for the politicians to stand up and listen to our views. This meeting will hopefully ignite our communities to a full realisation that our votes are not up for grabs until each one the candidates sets down a fully comprehensive set of policies that speak to our communities.

Notes to the editor

OBV will target 80 marginal seats where the black community can swing the election.The majority is the amount of votes that the election was won by one party over another.