Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
PartyPoliticalBroadcastOBVNewsIssue5Summer201011weremeantfortheirconstituentsandwefeltharddonebywhenwewererebuffedwiththekindsuggestionthatweapproachourownMP.SowhatdowefeelaboutthenewcropandwhatdoweexpectofthemIdoubtwhetherwefeelthesameeuphoriaasin1987.IdoubtwhetherweseethemasspecialandIdoubtwhetherweexpectthemtochampionourraceequalitycauses.ButweshouldWiththesubsumingoftheraceagendaunderthebannerofx18equalitiesandhumanrightsx19andthenew-fangledterminologyofx18diversityx19thatonlyservestoputraceatacompetitivedisadvantagethereisnowevenmorereasontochampionandpromoteraceequality.Whilsttheincreaseinrepresentationwasallthatwecravedforin1987whatwedemandnowisforthatrepresentationtobetranslatedintotangiblebeneBtsbecausewecannotaffordthegainsofallthathardworkandsacriBcestoberolledback.Weneedmorethanthesymbolismoftheirrepresentation.WeneedaneffectivecampaignandBghtforracialjustice.WeshouldremindthemthatasvisibleminoritiestheirobligationsextendbeyondtheirconstituenciestothewiderBlackcommunitiesandtheymustatalltimesleadonraceissues.WeshouldtaskthemtoworktowardsremovingtheethnicpenaltyinearningssufferedbyBlackpeopleinthelabourmarketandaskthemtoworktowardscuringtheinequalitiesinthehealthsector.Wemustalertthemoftheneedtodecreasetheover-representationofBlackpeopleinthecriminaljusticesystemandtoeradicateunder-achievementintheeducationalsystem.WeknowthattherewillbeexceptionalandtalentedonesamongstthenewclassofBlackMPsandwewishthattheywillrisetothehighestranksintheministriesandintheCabinetbutweaskthatinsodoingtheyensurethattheirindividualaspirationsarecongruentwiththeaspirationsofthewholeBlackcommunity.TheirindividualsuccessesshouldleadtotheupliftmentofallBlackpeopleinBritain.AdeSawyerrispartneratthediversityandequalityfocusedmanagementconsultancyEquinoxConsulting.equinoxconsulting.netadesequinoxconsulting.netWhyweexpectourBlackMPstostandupforusManyofthenewintakedonx19tunderstandthestrugglesaysjournalistMarcWadsworthAdecadeafterthedeathofBritainx19smostprominentBlackMPveteranpoliticianBernieGrantitis9ttingthatDianeAbbottthrewherhatintotheringtobecomeleaderoftheLabourPartyandwonenoughbackingtobeontheballotpaper.Grantaudaciouslystoodfordeputyleaderin1992buthiscampaignwasmoresymbolicthanrealistic.HecouldnotmusterenoughnominationstogetasfarasAbbottwhowonthesupportof33ofherLabourfellowparliamentarianstogettotheBnalstageofthecontestthatendsinSeptember.WhenGrantstoodhewasoneofjustfourBlackMPsincludingAbbottelectedin1987.Nowthereare27x1316ofthemLabourhalfofwhomarenewcomers.Justfourofthe16backedAbbottwholikemeisafoundermemberoftheLabourPartyBlackSectionstheactivistorganisationsetuptoBghtforgreaterBlackpoliticalrepresentation.BycontrastthevastmajorityofBlackcongresspeopleputtheirweightbehindBarackObamawhenheranfortheUSpresidency.GrantAbbottKeithVazMPandLordDavidPittformedtheParliamentaryBlackCaucusPBCin1988tomakesurethattheBlackperspectivewaspresentinthePalaceofWestminster.TheybelievedthatbyunitingtogetherinthiswaytheBlackcommunitycouldhaveastrongvoicetowhichpowerfulwhiteleaderswouldhavetolisten.Unfortunatelypersonalityclashesx13andPaulBoatengMPx19srefusaltojoinx13meantthePBClastedjustacoupleofyears.MPsAbbottVazKeithandValerieVirendraSharmaSadiqKhanandDavidLammywouldliketoseesomesuchgroupingsetupagainBarackObamabelongedtotheCongressionalBlackCaucusbeforebecomingpresident.ButIcouldnotgainsaywhetheralltheBlackLabourMPswouldbesokeen.WithafewexceptionstheirroutetoparliamentreliedmoreonwhitepatronagethanBlackself-organisation.TheyarethereforeessentiallyindividualistLabourMPswhohappentobeBlackandseetheirallegianceasbeingtothepartyleadershipBrstandforemostmuchlikeBoateng.Butthatdoesnotmeanthatweshouldwritethemoffbecauselikelifeitselfpoliticsisfullofcontradictions.TheMPsmaybepulledinonecareeristdirectionbythepartyleadershipbuttheywillbetuggedinanotherbythedemandsofBlackpeopleinconstituencieswherewemakeupalargesectionofvoters.BlackMPsmightlikeBoatengsayx1cIx19mnotmonochromeIrepresentallmyelectorateBlackandwhitex1dbuttheirskincolourandbackgroundwillsayotherwiseandtheexpectationsofAfricanCaribbeansandAsianswillputpressureonthem.ForexampleOperationBlackVotehasputinsterlingworkstatingthelogicalcaseforall-BlackshortliststoincreaseminorityethnicpoliticalrepresentationandhelpproduceaBlackManifestoofsoundpolicies.OBVlikemanyotherleadingcommunityorganisationssupportsthereformationofaparliamentaryBlackorganisation.BlackcommunitieswillwatchtoseehowtheMPswholooklikeusrespond.Wewillvigorouslysupportthosewhobackourcausesinsideandoutsideparliament.Andwewillcastourvotestoremovethosewhodonot.MarcWadsworthwasChairoftheLabourPartyBlackSections1986-88andistheeditorofthecitizenjournalismwebsitewww.the-latest.com