Why all minority shortlists would hold back a British Obama
sunderkatwala Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 01:53:26 PM GMT 
Facebook
In this week's New Statesman, I argue that all minority shortlists would be a step backwards.
An alternative approach would seek to tackle barriers which candidates face across class, race and gender. Please share ideas about what that might mean in practice.
An alternative approach would seek to tackle barriers which candidates face across class, race and gender. Please share ideas about what that might mean in practice.
Read the piece here
http://www.newstatesman.com/200803270029
The arguments are
* That all minority shortlists would be placed in the seats with most black and Asian voters, and retreat to an 'ethnic faces for ethnic voters' arrgument.
"Future Dhandas and Kumars fear being packed off to Leicester or Ealing and told to wait for one of "their seats" to come up. Many believe that minority-only contests would focus more on ethnicity - and which community's "turn" it is to win a seat - than the candidate's qualities".
* This raises different issues from all women shortlists.
And while this should not be a debate among minorities, it is clear that black and Asian MPs and candidates are much more divided about this issue than Labour women are about all minority shortlists, as The Independent's report on reactions to the piece suggests.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/black-shortlists-would-create-political-apartheid-8012 30.html
* That the most important argument is less about the impact on future politicians, but on the ability to build broad coalitions for social justice.
I think all minority shortlists create a dynamic of a politics of 'competitive grievance' which would make that harder, and so go in the opposite direction to what the government should be trying to do on child poverty, educational inequality and citizenship and Britishness; and to the new Equality Commission seeking a joined up approach to equality, across different 'strands' and dimensions of inequality.
---
But if not this then what? That is a good question.
While non-white candidates are increasingly competing and winning in open contests, as with Chukka Umunna recently in Streatham, Rushanara Ali in Bethnal Green and Yasmin Qureshi in Bolton South-East (and with the Conservatives beginning to get their act together on this too), that does not mean that further action will not be needed.
"The real issue - the missing link - is class. A comprehensive audit of selection barriers and action to level the playing field would benefit those from poorer non-white communities most, but not exclusively".
I want to look at what an alternative approach would mean in practice. Sadiq Khan MP and I are planning to hold a discussion about this, and will seek to put together some proposals and ideas which the party might adopt.
So please do share any ideas here, or email me with suggestions at sunder.katwala@fabian-society.org.uk
http://www.newstatesman.com/200803270029
The arguments are
* That all minority shortlists would be placed in the seats with most black and Asian voters, and retreat to an 'ethnic faces for ethnic voters' arrgument.
"Future Dhandas and Kumars fear being packed off to Leicester or Ealing and told to wait for one of "their seats" to come up. Many believe that minority-only contests would focus more on ethnicity - and which community's "turn" it is to win a seat - than the candidate's qualities".
* This raises different issues from all women shortlists.
And while this should not be a debate among minorities, it is clear that black and Asian MPs and candidates are much more divided about this issue than Labour women are about all minority shortlists, as The Independent's report on reactions to the piece suggests.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/black-shortlists-would-create-political-apartheid-8012 30.html
* That the most important argument is less about the impact on future politicians, but on the ability to build broad coalitions for social justice.
I think all minority shortlists create a dynamic of a politics of 'competitive grievance' which would make that harder, and so go in the opposite direction to what the government should be trying to do on child poverty, educational inequality and citizenship and Britishness; and to the new Equality Commission seeking a joined up approach to equality, across different 'strands' and dimensions of inequality.
---
But if not this then what? That is a good question.
While non-white candidates are increasingly competing and winning in open contests, as with Chukka Umunna recently in Streatham, Rushanara Ali in Bethnal Green and Yasmin Qureshi in Bolton South-East (and with the Conservatives beginning to get their act together on this too), that does not mean that further action will not be needed.
"The real issue - the missing link - is class. A comprehensive audit of selection barriers and action to level the playing field would benefit those from poorer non-white communities most, but not exclusively".
I want to look at what an alternative approach would mean in practice. Sadiq Khan MP and I are planning to hold a discussion about this, and will seek to put together some proposals and ideas which the party might adopt.
So please do share any ideas here, or email me with suggestions at sunder.katwala@fabian-society.org.uk
Why all minority shortlists would hold back a British Obama | 2 comments (2 topical)
Why all minority shortlists would hold back a British Obama | 2 comments (2 topical)
