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Who wants
to be an MP?
There will almost certainly be several new black members of parliament
after the next election. Hugh Muir wonders why they want the job
hat will they say, the political historians, about the
W
summer of 2009? How can they adequately describe
the level of the convulsion triggered by the Daily
Telegraph’s exposure of MPs’ expenses? From this
close proximity, it seems difficult to expect that they will be able
to convey the sense of shock, the fear, the anger that gripped the
political system.
And they will have to answer this. When the whole idea of
national representative politics is at its lowest ebb, why was it that
unprecedented numbers of black and Asian wannabes were trying
to join in, to put themselves in the firing line? When successful
black men and women have so many choices: industry, the media,
law, medicine to name a few, why do they join the cavalcade Candidates: Lib Dem Karen Hamilton and Tory Wilfred
of hopefuls wanting to be honourable members and more? Is Emmanuel-Jones (above) and Labour’s Chuka Umunna (left)
parliament still where power lies for minorities in today’s British
society? This year’s Powerlist, dominated as it is by business national life in their particular way, there also appears to be no
types, would suggest not. So aren’t the wannabes rats seeking to shortage of opportunities. All parties say they want to achieve
force their way on to the sinking ship? more diversity. Looks fine on paper, but it never quite works out
Chuka Umunna, the Labour prospective parliamentary like that. According to Operation Black Vote, Labour has a roster
candidate (PPC) for Streatham, south London, who would leave of 32 minority PPCs, the Tories 18 and the Liberal Democrats 21.
behind a career in law for the green benches of the Commons, says The SNP has two, Plaid Cymru three. But in terms of progress
definitely not. “One of the great frustrations of being a lawyer is the Tories are seen as having done best. OBV believes that six or
that you spend your time interpreting the law and acting on other seven Tories have been selected to fight winnable seats, whereas
people’s vision of what should happen; whereas as a politician only four or five of the Labour hopefuls can expect to emerge
you spend your time making law, changing law on the basis of the victorious. Of the 21 Lib Dems, all would have to be very lucky.
public support you have for your programme. Politics has been There’s power in politics to be sure. Power to ask questions,
diminished by what went on and it makes me angry, but in a way raise issues, flex muscles, probe wrongdoings. But how to get it?
it presents as opportunity; an opportunity for ordinary people to Within Labour, as a succession of black candidates complains of
make a difference.” being outwitted or outmanoeuvred during selection processes,
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, famed for his Black Farmer food the argument rages back and forth about the desirability of all-
range and now Tory PPC for Chippenham in Wiltshire, also firmly black shortlists. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, with little room for
believes that politics presents the best possibility to influence manoeuvre, is being told he must exploit any opportunities that
people’s lives – even more so than his acclaimed business. “It’s may arise from late resignations of existing MPs. “It’s a big test for
where you can have the impact,” he says. Even as a backbencher? him,” says Simon Woolley, OBV’s national coordinator.
“But I am not going into parliament to be a backbench MP,” he The Tories have faced an uphill task, not just to find black
says confidently. “I would be pretty disappointed if that is where would-be politicians, but also to change perceptions of what
I remained. I would be desperate to serve my constituents, but I was long viewed as a racist brand. Shaun Bailey, Tory PPC for
would hope the front bench would see I have something to offer.” Hammersmith, west London, says the story on this issue is so
If opinion polls are right and the Tories have the upper hand, that far so good. Leader David Cameron has been keen to school and
process could start sooner rather than later. mentor potential minority candidates but after that, Bailey says,
If there is no shortage of new black faces wanting to influence the party has been philosophically reluctant to do them any
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