OBV celebrates BME Parliamentarians
Parliamentarians including Home Secretary Theresa May attended a reception on 13th January 2016 to celebrate the historic number of Black and Minority Ethnic MPs. Hosted by Operation Black Vote (OBV), the event recognised the increase of BME MPs from just five in 1996, when the organisation formed, to a current record number of 41, which is still only 6.3% of all MPs. Britain's Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) population is 12.9% and it has 41 BME MPs (6.3%); BME councillors present 4.1% and BME Lords are at 5.3%. Official statistics show that the country's ethnic population is set to reach 30% by 2050 according to a report by Policy Exchange, a center-right research institute based in London.
OBV is an organisation that fights for greater racial and social justice in the UK, and the evening was hosted by OBV’s Director Simon Woolley, with guest speakers including:
· Home Secretary Rt. Hon Theresa May MP
· Chair of Home Affair’s select committee Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP
· Shadow Equality Minister Kate Green
· Baroness Ruby McGregor Smith
· Shadow International Development Secretary Diane Abbott
· Culture Secretary Sajid Javid
OBV’s Director Simon Woolley said, “today we celebrate a record number of Black and Minority Ethnic MP’s in parliament - 41. British politics and British society greatly benefits when we can utilise diversity’s teaming talent pool. That’s why today we are announcing that in the months ahead we will begin a new MP and business shadowing scheme.
Politicians such Clive Lewis MP as former Ministers Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Helen Grant MP came through the talent pools of OBV. Delivering greater representation helps ensure that all communities have voice and a real sense of belonging.”
Speaking at the event, Home Secretary Rt. Hon Theresa May said, “eighteen years ago, when I first entered Parliament, I looked across the green benches around me and saw a chamber that was too white, too male, and with too many people from the same walk of life. Thanks to the fantastic work of organisations like Operation Black Vote, we’ve come a long way and Parliament is better for it. There is a record number of black and ethnic minority MPs, more women than ever before, and an increasing number of openly gay MPs.”
“But we still have so much further to go. This is something I have found all too often in the Home Office – and it’s why I’ve been determined to open up the closed shop of policing and ensure that police forces properly reflect the communities they serve. We want greater diversity in policing and I hope that the coming PCC elections in May will see a diverse range of candidates too.”
“Tonight is a celebration of what has been achieved, but it must also be the impetus for further change. To ensure that Britain is a place where all people – no matter who they are or where they come from – have the opportunity to succeed.“
The BME MPs elected on 7th May are presented in alphanetical order by surname, as follows:
Diane Abbott, Labour, Hackney North and Stoke Newington;
Adam Afriyie, Conservative, Windsor;
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, SNP, Ochil and South Perthshire;
Rushanara Ali, Labour, Bethnal Green and Bow;
Dawn Butler, Labour, Brent South;
Rehman Chishti, Conservative, Gillingham and Rainham;
James Cleverly, Conservative, Braintree;
Thangam Debbonaire, Labour, Bristol West;
Suella Fernandes, Conservative, Fareham;
Nusrat Ghani, Conservative, Wealden;
Helen Grant, Conservative, Maidstone and The Weald;
Sam Gyimah, Conservative, East Surrey;
Imran Hussain, Labour, Bradford East;
Sajid Javid, Conservative, Bromsgrove;
Ranil Jayawardena, Conservative, North East Hampshire;
Mark Hendrick, Labour, Preston;
Rupa Huq, Labour, Ealing Central and Acton;
Sadiq Khan, Labour, Tooting;
Seema Kennedy, Conservative, South Ribble;
Kwasi Kwarteng, Conservative, Spelthorne;
David Lammy, Labour, Tottenham;
Clive Lewis, Labour, Norwich South;
Khalid Mahmood, Labour, Birmingham Perry Barr;
Shabana Mahmood, Labour, Birmingham Ladywood;
Alan Mak, Conservative, Havant;
Seema Malhotra, Labour, Feltham and Heston;
Lisa Nandy, Labour, Wigan;
Chi Onwurah, Labour, Newcastle upon Tyne Central;
Kate Osamor, Labour, Edmonton;
Priti Patel, Conservative, Witham;
Naz Shah, Labour, Bradford West;
Alok Sharma, Conservative, Reading West;
Virendra Sharma, Labour, Ealing Southall;
Tulip Siddiq, Labour, Hampstead and Kilburn;
Rishi Sunak, Conservative, Richmond (Yorks);
Yasmin Qureshi, Labour, Bolton South-East;
Chuka Ummuna, Labour, Streatham;
Shailesh Vara, Conservative, North West Cambridgeshire;
Keith Vaz, Labour, Leicester East;
Valerie Vaz, Labour, Walsall South;
Nadhim Zahawi, Conservative, Stratford-on-Avon.
