Written by Peter Bingle, Chairman, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs
Last night I spoke at an event organised by Ignite, a networking group for BME communications professionals. The subject was the forthcoming London mayoral election and the importance of the BME vote …
It was an enjoyable evening. The debate was robust but mostly good humoured. Whilst it is clearly the case that the colour of your skin can in certain instances be used against you, there can be few places in the world more supportive of diversity than London. The fact that race is not an issue in the fight for City Hall is a good thing. It suggests that members of the BME community are focussed on issues such as the northern line, housing and the costs of public services rather than discrimination on the basis of skin colour.
Of course there are issues which are particularly relevant to the BME community. I can remember in the 1980s being shocked when briefed by officers about the level of mental illness amongst the African community on some of the estates in North Battersea. There are also particular issues dealing with a growing elderly female Asian community in Tooting. But none of these problems are insuperable. The reality is that politicians are having to adapt to a society that is growing more diverse and challenging by the day.
There was debate last night about the different approaches adopted by Ken and Boris. With hindsight it seems that Ken believed that if you appealed to sufficient minorities you would eventually create a majority. This remains the Labour Party’s major problem in London where it no longer has a core white working class vote. Boris has a rather different approach. He is colour blind in his politics. People and communities have issues and challenges and it is his job to try and help them. I doubt, however, that there is a Boris BME strategy. He wouldn’t understand the need for one. As on most issues I think he is right.
We touched on the importance of social media in communicating with the BME community and its role in the forthcoming mayoral election. There is no greater advocate than me of social media but I remained to be convinced that it will play a major role.
On the BME issue there are two dangers. The first is looking for problems that don’t actually exist. On occasions last night there was a danger of that happening. The second danger is believing that are no problems at all which is nonsense. The sensible approach is surely to look at good quality research and analysis by institutions with no vested interests and then produce public policy solutions to resolve actual rather than perceived problems.
One of the most interesting questions last night was posed by a young woman from Poland. She asked rightly about the challenges faced by a growing Eastern European community in London and elsewhere. What is interesting about the Polish community (and there is a large community in Wandsworth) is that they have been able to combine the best of all possible worlds. Through churches and clubs they retain their identity whilst at the same time assimilating into the wider society. They also work incredibly hard. It can only be a matter of time before they mobilise themselves into a very powerful political lobbying group.
After the debate there was time to talk with members of the audience. There was a real passion about politics. There was a desire to become more involved and to have greater influence over the decisions that impact on their daily lives. There was also a frustration about the low numbers of politicians from the BME community with senior positions in local or national government. There was also good humour. I left having been impressed by these young communications professionals. One day their voice will be strong and powerful.
Why is race not a major issue in the mayoral elections in London? Can you create a majority out of minorities? Who are the political role models for the BME community? What needs to change?
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