Labour considers “all-black” shortlists
Labour Party Chairman Ian McCartney has said that the party is considering the possibility of “all-black” shortlists.
Mr McCartney said that he “hasn’t ruled out” the option if current efforts to increase minority ethnic representation in the Labour Party do not succeed.
The option of all ethnic minority shortlists has been floated before.
Then Party Chairman Charles Clarke told The Voice newspaper in 2002 that it was conceivable that legislation to allow the practice could be introduced before the next general election.
Proponents point to the success of all-women shortlists before the 1997 general election, which saw an increase in the number of female MPs to a record 101.
In an interview with Black Information Link Mr McCartney said: “Those who stand for the Labour Party have to be seen as representing the community as a whole. If you have a Labour Council in a multiracial community then the Council should reflect the nature of its community.”
Mr McCartney said that he has not ruled out introducing legislation to enable all ethnic minority shortlists, and added that he would be informally encouraging such shortlists wherever possible.
There are currently 12 ethnic minority MPs in the Commons, all representing Labour.
These include the first black Cabinet Minister Paul Boateng.
Commenting on the legal possibility of all Black shortlists in March 2003 the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) warned that: “With the exception of the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002, which allows women only shortlists until 2015, positive discrimination is illegal in this country.
“There is currently no legislation permitting all ‘Black’ shortlists, and the CRE has been advised by counsel that the introduction of ‘Black’ only shortlists could contravene the Race Relations Act (1976).
‘That said, there are clearly barriers preventing ethnic minorities entering politics. The CRE supports positive action schemes which encourage ethnic minorities to become more involved in politics.’
Shahid Malik, the chair of Labour’s Ethnic Monitoring Forum has however signalled his opposistion to all-black shortlists.
Writing in 2003 he said: “all-black shortlists could be divisive, potentially setting one community against another.”
He also pointed out that “the use of all-black shortlists in areas of high ethnic minority concentration would simply ghettoise able and aspiring black and Asian politicians by signalling that they are only fit to represent ‘their own people’.
“Labour should instead be tackling the democratic deficit by setting ambitious and transparent targets for ethnic minority representation and by building consensus within local parties.”
Shahid Malik has been chosen to fight the next general election in the Labour held seat in Tooting London.
