Has Diversity Finally Reached UK Politics?

In its entire political history, the UK has seen only three black women Members of Parliament: Diane Abbott (1987); Oona King (1997); Dawn Butler (2005).

Dianne Abbott has come of age in political terms, as earlier this year she celebrated 21 years of being an MP. Oona King’s reign, on the other hand, ended after seven years when she lost her seat in 2005. In that same year Dawn Butler was elected by the people of Brent South and she seems destined or could it be determined to go places. In 2006 Ms Butler was elected as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Youth Affairs by a cross party delegation of MP's. The following year she was promoted by the Prime Minister as Vice Chair of the Labour Party with a remit on Youth. In 2008, her seemingly annual promotion continues as she has become the first elected black woman to gain ministerial office; she is currently Assistant Government Whip.

This impressive (and motivational) rise has however been fraught with head-on encounters of racism and sexism, as white male colleagues more used to seeing black women cleaners and cooks than MPs in the Commons, are confused by her presence. One white Tory MP upon finding out that Ms Butler was an MP was heard to remark "they're letting anybody in nowadays". Sadly those encounters and comments appear to be commonplace in politics and is not just the preserve of Conservative politicians. Dianne Abbott remembers being asked by a fellow Labour MP if Christmas was celebrated in Jamaica. Was that ignorance; illiteracy or racism? Whichever way, it does not bode well for us citizens if these are the people in charge.

Dawn Butler believes a strong complaint process and diversity awareness training is essential to educate MPs and influence behaviour. The cynics among us might say this will only teach them not to state feelings out loud and that it will require a lot more to entice black women into dip their toes into the mire - if you will excuse the mixed metaphors. Others suggest the introduction of all women, all black shortlists, but there is still fierce resistance to this approach from many quarters.

Nevertheless, no-one can deny the importance of the black female vote and the effect that having gender and ethnicity reflected in political candidates might have on it. Political parties must sex up their recruitment and retention process. David Cameron and the Tories are trying to woo black women on both sides of the electorate by setting up an A list of candidates to be fast tracked into winnable Tory seats. Helen Grant, a lawyer from Kent is one such woman, also making history as the first black woman selected to defend a Tory Seat. One can only wait to see how successful this scheme will be for the Conservative Party. But in the meantime, the UK political arena is arguably still the same racist, sexist province of white, middle-class male that it has always been.