Highlights of the submission:
The Black British population is 5.5 % (3.1 million), if parliament reflected the diversity of the population there would be 36 Black MPs. There are currently only nine Black MPs (five Labour)
At present only two additional Black candidates have been selected to stand for 106 Labour target seats in 2015
The number of Black Labour MPs has risen from three in 1987 to five in 2010.
The main focus of the submission relate to the underrepresentation of Black elected representatives for the Labour Party. In understanding this the submission looks at the experiences of and barriers faced by Black candidates, financial barriers, obstruction and lack of transparency, bullying and intimidation.
In summary the main recommendations are:
1. Open Primaries in areas with a high Black population and where the local party does not reflect
the diversity of the community.
2. The NEC should impose ‘All BAME Shortlists’ (with particular consideration given to Black candidates) to address the imbalance in upcoming late retirements.
3. The Party should take action against any CLP, LCF, individual Labour Party member or Union that bring the party into disrepute by: Collecting information about another member with the intention to smear them.
Deliberately withholding information from them with the intention to stop them standing.
Manipulating the Party rules with the intention of stopping an individual standing.
Briefing the press, opposition parties or other member against another member.
4. Local Government - in areas where there is a high Black or Asian population, one seat in every three should be assigned a Black or Asian seats.
5. Develop a Diversity Fund that individuals, affiliated groups and outside organisations can donate to.
6. Have a spending cap on selections.
7. The Labour Party should attempt to increase the proportion of Black staff at both national and regional levels.
8. Regional targets for BAME representation for local government, Parliamentary candidates, MP’s, Peers and all forms of public office at regional level.
9. The Party Leader should use his discretion and patronage to appoint Black working peers in the House of Lords to redress the balance of under representation in Parliament.
To view the full document please click here.
Dear Friend,
Following the launch of Labour Black Network’s Manifesto at the Labour Party’s conference we thank you for attending, what some considered to be, a momentous occasion in the political mobilisation of the Black community. In essence, the manifesto identifies issues that have been part of an ongoing debate for so many years and now appear in one coherent document.
In terms of moving the agenda forward, the Networking is asking you to:
· Use the Black History Month to promote the manifesto, as appropriate, within your local community.
· Use the manifesto to recruit new members to the Labour Party.
· Discuss the manifesto at your branch and CLP meetings.
· Use the manifesto to assist in ensuring that there is a Labour government in 2015.
Below are examples of media coverage of the manifesto. Also, consult our web-site for ongoing events. We also welcome feedback and suggestions for promoting our agenda more widely.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/21/labour-renew-vows-britain-minorities-black-network
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29330744
You can download the manifesto here.
The Black British population is 5.5 % (3.1 million), if parliament reflected the diversity of the population there would be 36 Black MPs. There are currently only nine Black MPs (five Labour)
At present only two additional Black candidates have been selected to stand for 106 Labour target seats in 2015
The number of Black Labour MPs has risen from three in 1987 to five in 2010.
The main focus of the submission relate to the underrepresentation of Black elected representatives for the Labour Party. In understanding this the submission looks at the experiences of and barriers faced by Black candidates, financial barriers, obstruction and lack of transparency, bullying and intimidation.
In summary the main recommendations are:
1. Open Primaries in areas with a high Black population and where the local party does not reflect
the diversity of the community.
2. The NEC should impose ‘All BAME Shortlists’ (with particular consideration given to Black candidates) to address the imbalance in upcoming late retirements.
3. The Party should take action against any CLP, LCF, individual Labour Party member or Union that bring the party into disrepute by: Collecting information about another member with the intention to smear them.
Deliberately withholding information from them with the intention to stop them standing.
Manipulating the Party rules with the intention of stopping an individual standing.
Briefing the press, opposition parties or other member against another member.
4. Local Government - in areas where there is a high Black or Asian population, one seat in every three should be assigned a Black or Asian seats.
5. Develop a Diversity Fund that individuals, affiliated groups and outside organisations can donate to.
6. Have a spending cap on selections.
7. The Labour Party should attempt to increase the proportion of Black staff at both national and regional levels.
8. Regional targets for BAME representation for local government, Parliamentary candidates, MP’s, Peers and all forms of public office at regional level.
9. The Party Leader should use his discretion and patronage to appoint Black working peers in the House of Lords to redress the balance of under representation in Parliament.
To view the full document please click here.
Dear Friend,
Following the launch of Labour Black Network’s Manifesto at the Labour Party’s conference we thank you for attending, what some considered to be, a momentous occasion in the political mobilisation of the Black community. In essence, the manifesto identifies issues that have been part of an ongoing debate for so many years and now appear in one coherent document.
In terms of moving the agenda forward, the Networking is asking you to:
· Use the Black History Month to promote the manifesto, as appropriate, within your local community.
· Use the manifesto to recruit new members to the Labour Party.
· Discuss the manifesto at your branch and CLP meetings.
· Use the manifesto to assist in ensuring that there is a Labour government in 2015.
Below are examples of media coverage of the manifesto. Also, consult our web-site for ongoing events. We also welcome feedback and suggestions for promoting our agenda more widely.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/sep/21/labour-renew-vows-britain-minorities-black-network
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29330744
You can download the manifesto here.