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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| After Falkirk, Labour should open the door to ethnic minority candidates | After Falkirk, Labour should open the door to ethnic minority candidates |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Following the furore over the Falkirk parliamentary selection, my tweets were seized upon and contorted into a media attack on Unite-backed Labour candidates. My tweets had asked why the "Press Falkirk furore? ... What of Unite's orchestration in Lewisham or Hornsey? Ed's "One Nation" agenda not worth the column inches?" | Following the furore over the Falkirk parliamentary selection, my tweets were seized upon and contorted into a media attack on Unite-backed Labour candidates. My tweets had asked why the "Press Falkirk furore? ... What of Unite's orchestration in Lewisham or Hornsey? Ed's "One Nation" agenda not worth the column inches?" |
| I later qualified this. Having recently been campaigning for selection as Labour's candidate in the London constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, I was "All up for democratic union support, less fond of autocratic monopoly, especially when it contradicts a progressive Labour agenda." And given that Unite was financially backing 41 candidates nationally, I further asked how many ethnic minority activists the Unite leader Len McCluskey was supporting in minority-heavy safe Labour seats. | |
| The media alleged I had gone on the record regarding selection illegalities, but my comments on Falkirk were intended to highlight the lack of focus on ethnic minority candidates who have been losing out to the Unite selection machine in many seats – and seats where Ed Miliband's One Nation agenda would clearly resonate with ordinary voters. With only three ethnic minority candidates on Unite's slate, this to me seemed to contradict party and union aims, especially given the proportion of party and union loyalists among minority groups. In the 2010 elections, 68% of ethnic minorities voted Labour. Were parliament fully representative, there would be at least 56 minority MPs. At the moment there are just 27. | The media alleged I had gone on the record regarding selection illegalities, but my comments on Falkirk were intended to highlight the lack of focus on ethnic minority candidates who have been losing out to the Unite selection machine in many seats – and seats where Ed Miliband's One Nation agenda would clearly resonate with ordinary voters. With only three ethnic minority candidates on Unite's slate, this to me seemed to contradict party and union aims, especially given the proportion of party and union loyalists among minority groups. In the 2010 elections, 68% of ethnic minorities voted Labour. Were parliament fully representative, there would be at least 56 minority MPs. At the moment there are just 27. |
| Last week Ed Miliband announced a number of changes to Labour's relationship with the unions. These included caps on donations, and changing affiliate funding. While welcome, this in part has already been addressed. My union, Unison, already asks members to opt in to Labour party donation and the party has already curbed individual candidates spending by limiting the literature each individual is allowed to distribute. | Last week Ed Miliband announced a number of changes to Labour's relationship with the unions. These included caps on donations, and changing affiliate funding. While welcome, this in part has already been addressed. My union, Unison, already asks members to opt in to Labour party donation and the party has already curbed individual candidates spending by limiting the literature each individual is allowed to distribute. |
| Critically though, there are no restrictions on the materials which supporting organisations can send out on a candidate's behalf. The key issue that ethnic minority applicants are up against is the early mobilisation of local activists in favour of an identified candidate who, via union or party inner circles, is given an advantage well before the official selection process commences. Ordinary members without the same connections quickly realise it's not just about money, it's about power, access and influence. Falkirk shone a spotlight on other seats where Unite have mobilised. | Critically though, there are no restrictions on the materials which supporting organisations can send out on a candidate's behalf. The key issue that ethnic minority applicants are up against is the early mobilisation of local activists in favour of an identified candidate who, via union or party inner circles, is given an advantage well before the official selection process commences. Ordinary members without the same connections quickly realise it's not just about money, it's about power, access and influence. Falkirk shone a spotlight on other seats where Unite have mobilised. |
| The Labour Black Women's Network (LBWN), which I co-founded three years ago, was set up to try and counter the established selection machine by growing our own networks of mutual support. Currently supported by sitting MPs Diane Abbott and Chi Onwurah, we have more than 100 members, a large number of whom are aspiring PPCs. | The Labour Black Women's Network (LBWN), which I co-founded three years ago, was set up to try and counter the established selection machine by growing our own networks of mutual support. Currently supported by sitting MPs Diane Abbott and Chi Onwurah, we have more than 100 members, a large number of whom are aspiring PPCs. |
| It's 20 years since Labour's all-women's shortlist came into being. In that time, more than 60 Labour women have been elected to Westminster. Of those, only one was of African-Caribbean origin. Last weekend, though, the results of two such selections suggested that tide may now be turning: Councillor Josie Channer, a member of LBWN, was selected in Kingswood, Gloucestershire; and Tulip Siddiq, of Bangladeshi origin, was selected in her home constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn. | It's 20 years since Labour's all-women's shortlist came into being. In that time, more than 60 Labour women have been elected to Westminster. Of those, only one was of African-Caribbean origin. Last weekend, though, the results of two such selections suggested that tide may now be turning: Councillor Josie Channer, a member of LBWN, was selected in Kingswood, Gloucestershire; and Tulip Siddiq, of Bangladeshi origin, was selected in her home constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn. |
| These selection results go some way to reducing the cynicism of colleagues both black and white who, having stood for selection in the past, have questioned whether any selections are actually open, equitable or fair. | These selection results go some way to reducing the cynicism of colleagues both black and white who, having stood for selection in the past, have questioned whether any selections are actually open, equitable or fair. |
| Whether the selecting elite is party- or union-aligned, the proportionality of representation should be a fundamental consideration – especially if our One Nation notion is to be believed. | Whether the selecting elite is party- or union-aligned, the proportionality of representation should be a fundamental consideration – especially if our One Nation notion is to be believed. |
| • This article was amended on 17 July 2013 to make clear that Mandy Richards had been campaigning to become Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate in the London constistuency of Hornsey and Wood Green. | • This article was amended on 17 July 2013 to make clear that Mandy Richards had been campaigning to become Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate in the London constistuency of Hornsey and Wood Green. |