PRESS RELEASE: Showcasing the UK’s Barack Obama generation

Operation Black Vote will host a generation of new and dynamic Black and minority ethnic politicians. They are all political candidates either for the forthcoming EU elections or the general election.

Political heavyweights such as Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Conservative Chair Eric Pickles will speak to the candidates.

About 70 candidates have so far been selected for the elections of which about 10 will be fighting very winnable seats.

Hosted by Operation Black Vote, the ‘New Generation of PPCs’ rally and photo call takes place at the House of Commons, Committee Room 14, starting at 10.00, on Tuesday, 24th March 2009. (After in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Room)
 
OBV’s Simon Woolley states: This new generation of BME politicians brings a confidence, dynamism and a humanity which is very much in the Obama spirit.  Their generation are confident enough to talk about race, but unwilling to be defined by it.  Their success will be the UK’s success.

OBV’s Ashok Viswanathan states: These political candidates can be the catalyst that brings young people and BME communities into mainstream politics. I am optimistic that their lives closely resemble the lives of the majority. Our democracy in the UK needs to move into the 21st century.

Further information about the event and to arrange interviews please contact: Winsome-Grace Cornish: winsome@obv.org.uk. Tel: 0208 983 5431    

Notes to the editor:

• 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.

• The Black vote can decide who wins and who loses in over 100 seats at the next General Election.

Contact on the day: Ashok Viswanathan 077259 45877