Press Release: Operation Black Vote & Liberal Democrats to transform party

‘A Representative Party for the 21st Century’ sets out a programme to recruit; retain and promote Black and Minority Ethnic communities within the Liberal Democrat party. To date the Liberal Democrats have no BME MP’s and only one BME MEP Sajjad H Karim.

As part of this project the Lib Dems will be launching a scheme to recruit at least 5 BME individuals. They will engage in a 6 month long internship in key offices such as the Leaders office, the Whips office and the Press office. It is hoped this will act as a recruitment platform for more BME people, and for securing new candidates and new elected members.

Head of OBV Simon Woolley stated: ‘I am pleased that this programme will be fully implemented throughout the party. It gives the Lib Dems an effective platform to gain more BME members, more directly elected BME politicians and greater confidence for BME communities to support them’.

Lib Dem leader Ming Campbell state: ‘Since being elected as Liberal Democrat leader, I have made a personal commitment to making my party more representative of the communities we serve. I want to encourage people who have not previously engaged in politics: join us, get selected and get elected.’

ENDS.

Notes to the editor:

24th Jan: Simon Woolley presents paper ‘A representative party for the 21st century’, to Lib Dem parliamentary group. 25th Jan: Lib Dem leader, Lord Dholakia, Simon Woolley, Launch OBV internship, 7pm at the Palace of Westminster Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign. The term ‘Black’ is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities.