Yes (We Can) Prime Minister

Since that historical election that saw the US electing its first African American president, debate has taken place among ethnic minorities if Britain too, is ready to follow suit.

But although it does not have to shake off the shackles of legalized slavery like the US, it will still be some time before we have a Black or Asian leader gracing the hallways of 10 Downing Street. This is because out of the 646 MPs elected in the last 2005 General Election to the UK Parliament, only a pitiful 15 are of ethnic minority origin. In addition, not one of these includes an MP of Chinese origin.

According to the 2001 Census, this is a far cry from a parliament representative of Britain today; with only two percent of Members of Parliament being of a non-white background compared to eight percent of the UK population originating from a non-white background.

A report by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, found a rise in Islamophobia in Britain after 9/11 from verbal abuse to assault. The tumultuous events from the last decade to 9/11, 7/7 London bombings and the Glasgow bombings, have somewhat tarnished, albeit discreetly, the image of the Asian population, begging one to question whether predominantly white Britain will elect an Asian MP in a predominantly white constituency, let alone an Asian prime minister.

However, it isn’t all doom and gloom. Things are progressing slowly but surely. Ethnic minorities are increasingly being appointed in senior roles at Westminster. Adam Afriyie was elected as the first Black Conservative MP in 2005, followed by Shailesh Vara, a Ugandan Asian, who became the first African-Asian Conservative shadow minister when he was appointed Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons in 2006. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi was the first Muslim woman to be selected by the Conservative party to stand as a parliamentary candidate for their party in the 2005 General Election.

Although Warsi lost that election she was made a working peer, giving her a place in the House of Lords and the title of Baroness. She was also appointed the Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action, making her one of the most powerful women in the country. Although, it should not be pointed out that the Tories have been known to put ethnic minorities in no hope seats, as a token measure, making them look progressive, but perhaps acting more as a ploy for votes. The Labour Party has made considerable headway since its reign began in 1997 too. Their senior party figures are from ethnic minority origins such as Dawn Butler, David Lammy and Sadiq Khan to name just a few.

Sadiq Khan, Labour MP for Tooting, believes ethnic minorities do have a future in British politics but will move at a slower pace to the United States: He said, “In Britain you can’t make a brilliant speech and get noticed in the way Barack Obama did…you have to rise up through the ranks in parliament. Our history is different. Mass migration – slavery – took place in America 400 years ago. Condoleezza Rice is the fourth generation of her family to go to university,” he added.

Khan also explained that mass migration to Britain has only happened over the last 40 to 50 years. However, he said, “….our recent progress has been far steeper than in the US – we have been much quicker.”

With so few ethnic minorities in Parliament today it is hoped that at the General Election later this year, more ethnic minorities are elected into power. They are talented and educated enough to deserve such a position. If Warwick is anything to go by then the talent isn’t lacking. Minority groups need to fight the institutionalized prejudice that is prevalent in all levels of parliamentary processes, and rid parliament of its reputation for being exclusively white and male.

Only then will we, on this side of the Atlantic, not miss out on our own Obama. Who knows, maybe our own future ethnic minority leader.