A question of representation
Perhaps the most worrying defeat for Nick Clegg in Liverpool this week came today against proposals to take positive action to try and elect more Lib Dem MPs who are black and from ethnic minorities. It could have big long-term implications for the future of the party.
This is a very big problem for the Lib Dems. None of their 57 MPs is black or comes from an ethnic minority, and the only one in modern times was Parmjit Singh Gill, who won Leicester South in a by-election in 2004, but lost it at the general election a year later.
Labour has made steady progress on this issue in the last 25 years, and the Conservatives, too, in recent years. Labour now has 16 ethnic minority MPs and the Conservatives 11.
A plan to oblige local Lib Dem constituency parties in winnable seats to include at least one person who is black or from an ethnic minority, was voted out this morning.
I'm told that Nick Clegg told a dinner given by the Pakistani High Commissioner a few days ago that his party was in the "last chance saloon" on this issue.
And the situation will get worse. Many of the Lib Dems' ethnic minority councillors represent inner-city seats where Labour is the main challenger, and therefore they are in danger of losing.
"The party has a long way to go before we are truly representative of society," Nick's Clegg's chief-of-staff Norman Lamb told me. "This is a classic liberal situation where the party doesn't want any interference in people's individual votes, but I think it needs to be nudged."
"We need action now," said Lester Holloway, a councillor from Sutton who proposed the measure (and is of mixed race). "Otherwise we are to find it increasingly difficult to sell the Liberal Democrat programme to black and ethnic minority communities in the cities. The image of the party will put off those voters."
And the Liberal Democrats continue to have a big problem with female representation too. Only seven of their 57 MPs are women - just 12%, compared with 16% of Tory MPs who are female, and 31% Labour.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 22nd Sep 2010, jmans16 wrote:Justin i think they should look the swiss about the way woman are in in more politics
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Comment number 2.
At 22nd Sep 2010, BluesBerry wrote:I sure hope that this isn't the most worrying proposal under consideration - to take positive action to try and elect more Lib Dem MPs who are black & from ethnic minorities.
I've never been a strong proponent of affirmative action or anything that seems to be related thereto. In my constituency, I want the best representation possible. If that's black, I'm happy. It that's female, I'm happy. But I will not be happy with an incompetent black female.
There are those who would make this a big problem for the Lib Dems, but my response is posed in these questions:
1. Are the Lib Dems satisfied that they have strong representation in each of the 57 constituencies?
2. Do the Lib Dems have a problem supporting minorities in politics? Do they snub them? Harrass them. Make it clear they are not welcome in the Lib Dem Party? If no, all's well.
The place to tackle low level representation in poltical parties is in the educational system, including universities. It's not "parties" as such that keep minorities back; rather, it's lack of education, poorer living standards, lack of money (aka poverty), lack of mentoring... I for one hope to live to see the day that the UK has a black (but really capable) Prime Minister.
Look at this suggestion: to place minority candidates into winnable seats. How patronizing! Good that it was voted out this morning.
Shame on Nick Clegg for telling the Pakistani High Commissioner that his party was in the "last chance saloon" on this issue. Nick should have said, in fact I'm sure he meant - we are looking for ways to even out the poltical opportunities for all persons suited.
I agree with Lester Holloway, a councillor from Sutton: "We need action now."...
But I disagree with Holloway's motivation: "Otherwise we are to find it increasingly difficult to sell the Liberal Democrat programme to black and ethnic minority communities in the cities. The image of the party will put off those voters."
Well, Holloway, is the action taken meant to raise up minority Lib Dems, preferably female...or to raise up political savvy, independent thinkers who may elect to become Tory or Labour?
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Comment number 3.
At 22nd Sep 2010, jauntycyclist wrote:why make the qualification to be an mp skin colour not competence? why not qualification in government and society building required? that would weed out the deadbeats, losers and chancers and given ethnic minorities who believe in education it would help them?
when will the position of head of state be 'representative of society'?
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Comment number 4.
At 22nd Sep 2010, barriesingleton wrote:AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Short gingers?
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Comment number 5.
At 22nd Sep 2010, jauntycyclist wrote:4
the idols of equality, fairness etc means common sense is sacrificed on their altars every day.
do we choose doctors on this basis? or air traffic controllers? Is it fair and equal that my bus dribver has no proof of driving skill but has the 'qualification' of the right gender/race/whathaveyou?
what is the function of MPs? of the guardian class? In what should they be skilled? in what should they be qualified?
all this equality fairness is a pig philosophy that produce a state suitable for 'pigs' or people who cannot discriminate or are forced by laws not to discriminate in favour of that which is the good and the best.
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Comment number 6.
At 23rd Sep 2010, stevie wrote:is it cos I is LibDem?
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Comment number 7.
At 23rd Sep 2010, Cassandra wrote:Labour also has a lot of work to do in an more immediate sense.
- recognising and acknowledging the mistakes (lets face it total stuff ups)of Blair/Brown era; and
- saying what their position is on the deficit, banks, av, tax and benefit reform, trident etc. etc.
And I wonder how quickly they will adapt to the new dynamic of coalition politics.
Minds you it is not all bad news for Labour. They should have been annhilated at the last election but they weren't - quite remarkable.
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Comment number 8.
At 23rd Sep 2010, Smeagol wrote:The problem with positive discrimination in favour of a minority is that it undermines the credibility of those who are selected. Such people become tokens who cannot escape from the stigma of having been selected on criteria other than merit.
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