OBV asked to assist New Labour Party group to tackle race and gender deficit

Trevor Phillips said: "The Labour Party has made progress over the years. After all we are the Party in the House of Commons with 101 women, and the only Party with Black and Asian MPs - eight out of 639 MPs. But it's not quite good enough.

"In the recent GLA elections it was Labour that represented Black and Asian Voters and I was one of them. But we still returned only two minority ethnic members out of 25. Thirty percent of Londoners are from ethnic minority communities, I don't think democracy is being done any favours here."

Operation Black Vote's Simon Woolley explained: "The UK's Black communities contribute so much to society, both economically and culturally. However our skills and energies are not used within the British political system, locally or nationally The Labour Party has enjoyed our unprecedented support and yet has not delivered more Black politicians. The Party must wake up or lose Black support. Representation is key. That's why Operation Black Vote is working with EQ."

EQ aims to collaborate with like-minded organisations to work within the Labour Party to change attitudes and actions. Along with providing training, grants and mentoring for ethnic minority and women political hopefuls, EQ will challenge a parliamentary selection process that either by design or default continues to waste talent.

Barbara Follett MP, the founder of EMILY's List UK explained "We learned with EMILY's List that to effect change you need real action EMILY's List really did change the face of Parliament with 101 women MPs. But what we need to do now is to move on and understand that democracy must be truly representative of society as a whole.

"We have some women, not nearly enough, on the Assemblies, but outside London with its 2 elected representatives there are no black or Asian representatives whatsoever. Representative democracy is crucial for Britain's dynamic multi-cutural society, I will work with EQ to see that it comes sooner not later."

Richard Stone, Adviser to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, and chair of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality and of the Runnymede Commission on Islamophobia, added: "At the last General Election, the number of Labour women elected to Parliament reached 101. Now we need to make an extra effort to ensure a similar increase in the number of black and Asian MPs. The Labour Party needs to recognise race equality and cultural diversity. It is unacceptable for a Party committed to equality that the number of MPs from these British communities remains in single figures."

EQ will be launched on Wednesday 24 May 9.30 - 10.30am, Room E, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA.

Available for interview will be Paul Boateng MP, Trevor Phillips, Simon Woolley - Operation Black Vote, Barbara Follet MP, EMILY's List UK, Lord Waheed Alli, Richard Stone, Adviser to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, and chair of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality and of the Runnymede Commission on Islamophobia, Lady Hollick.