Can Cameron end the Labour Party's "special relationship" with black voters?

The cover feature in this week's New Statesman is a report on the Tory relationship with Britain's black voters - Black and Blue.  The article by David Matthews notes that the Tories won just 2% of the Black and Minority Ethnic vote at the last election.  Can it be turned around?

Two black candidates - selected for the Conservatives in target seats - think it can.

Chippenham constituency's Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones is quoted in David Matthews' piece: ""The Labour Party has had the black vote for over 50 years and what have they done with it?  Where are the black MPs on the Labour front bench?"

If Labour have failed to promote black talent, Shaun Bailey - our Hammersmith candidate - also believes that Labour is talking about the wrong issues: "Climate change, obesity and the environment are not what black people want to hear about. Black people want policies that address crime, education, single parenthood."

The black vote could be crucial for winning the London Mayoralty for Boris Johnson next year.  Ken Livingstone understands that and that is why his proxies launched an all-out assault on him in August over his record on race.

Key to connecting to black voters will be to recognise their concerns about crime and public services - as Shaun Bailey does - but also to recognise that a huge proportion are socially conservative and churchgoers.  The Conservative Christian Fellowship has organised a series of meetings between black churchleaders and the Tory leadership in a bid to ensure that the party understands their concerns.  Support for the family and for faith-based social action should be a key ingredient of Tory efforts to transform that embarrassing 2% figure.  David Cameron addressed related themes in the 2007 William Wilberforce Address.

The party leadership's attempts to win support amongst minority communities also partly explains - rightly or wrongly - the speed with which Caroline Spelman moved to end the career of Nigel Hastilow.

Comments

[passing leftie]

The party leadership's attempts to win support amongst minority communities also partly explains - rightly or wrongly - the speed with which Caroline Spelman moved to end the career of Nigel Hastilow.

And there was me hoping it was a principled stand against racism. How naive.

[Louise]

Aren't both possible passing leftie? I would say yes.

[Tony Makara]

Labour have taken the black and asian vote for granted for so long now that it has made them appear to be patronizing and even complacent to the aspirations of those communities. As Shaun Baily says black voters are concerned about crime, especially with so many youngsters being railroaded into gangs. As we have seen only recently the very act of refusing to join a gang can lead to boys being killed. I remember the very sad story of the two young girls who were shot dead at a new years party and the tragedy was just written off by the media as being a 'Black on black' incident. This attitude is just not good enough. Crime in black communities is everyones concern.

[passing leftie]

Aren't both possible passing leftie? I would say yes

Yes, I agree they are. I apologize - I didn't notice the partly.

[Sean Fear]

I think the overall Conservative vote share among ethnic minority voters was more like 10-15% than 2%.

I think the more upwardly mobile members of such communities will gradually shift towards the Conservatives (in the same way that Jews started to, in the Sixties) but I would imagine that the poorer members of such communities will remain firmly pro-Labour (if they vote at all).

[Mr Angry]

It is perfectly possible for the Tories to win a large number of black votes so long as we understand, as Shaun Bailey correctly says, that we must focus on the issues that concern them. I don't believe that Sean Fear is right in believing that we will only win over wealthier BME voters, the same issues that concern white working class voters, and the strivers, concern black ones too.

One of Labour's principle failures with the Black community has been to tell them what they care about, mostly matters of political correctness, rather then listening to the community. The Labour party has also spent 50 years telling Black people that they need Labour to "protect" them in some way or another. Not only is this grossly patronising but it is also wholly untrue. To work to reach out to the very many black people, across all income levels, who are heavily involved with faith groups, and the positive social action that they undertake, is an excellent idea and a good start to winning over this sizeable group of voters.

I am however not anything like so sure that it will be as easy to win votes in the various different Asian communities in Britain, although there are encouraging signs that in particular Sikh voters are coming our way.The relationship with the, primarily South Asian, Muslim groupings is frought with difficulty, as evidenced by the recent, highly contentious, report of the Conservative Muslim Forum. Unfortunately it is clearly apparent that there is an influential section of that community that expects the party to agree to their views on certain matters, as opposed to them finding common ground with the Party's policies, in return for their qualified support. This requirement for a quid pro quo makes it hard to move forward with them.

[Joe James Broughton]

I think many younger black people are increasingly fed up with the patronising attitude that treats them as victims, and gradually Conservative support will rise.

Passing leftie, you seem to spend a lot of time on our site with your sanctimonious, petty and vindictive attacks.

[Patrick Ratnaraja]

David Cameron can. But the others in the Conservative party are not supporting him.

Some people don't have any idea about the ethnic minority voters.Conservative party where there aren't many BEM candidates or members, some BEM members say that they are doing a wonderful job and the BEM community are turning to us.

Wake up

In the real world there are so many voters from the BEM communities are still not willing to vote for the Conservatives.

If you canvass in places like Croydon North I am sure you will realise that the Tories are wrong to claim that the Black voters are turning to us.

It is time for us to be real and reach out to these communities. I have written so many letters and emails to the Conservative party and some MPs to talk to my community. No one is bothered.

I am sure David Cameron has a genuine interest on this issue and He is keen to get BEM voters to vote for us. Unfortunately not many people in the Conservative party feel that this is an important issue.

[Editor]

Yes, Sean, I was very surprised by that number. I'll make enquiries as to whether it's right...

[MH]

Given the UK is 92% white caucasian (according to the last census), wouldn't a more sensible strategy be to focus on white voters?

[passing leftie]

I think the following would be very helpful in attracting black voters to the party:

1. Understanding that in any context terms such as "picanniny" used by a politician are not acceptable, as is suggesting that Africa's problems are caused by not being ruled by white nations. Pragmatically, very few black people will vote for someone who makes those remarks.

2. To own up to and publicly disown racist elements in the party - for example Hastilow.

3. To not disaparage immigrants as people, particularly if you are discussing immigration. You might not like net migration, but you feel anomisity towards immigrants, then you are misunderstanding the nature of the problem.

4. To jump forward a few decades, and realise that, like the Tory front bench in the 70s, that Enoch Powell's speech is racist.

Then you can start discussing the day-to-day issues which affect most people, and will incidentally please black voters.

[Joe]

In response to MH's comments, yes it would be IF the other 8% were spread out. But they are not. In some constituencies of the UK, ethnic minorities make up a fair share of the votes. Thus it would be wise for the Tories to appeal to both ethnic minorities and whit English voters, not as you seem to suggest - just solely focus on white English-white voters and presumably ignore voters from ethnic minorities.

It might also worth noting, that the statistics you use came from 2001 census - I suspect the next census in 2011 will show a very different number.

[601]

"Given the UK is 92% white caucasian (according to the last census), wouldn't a more sensible strategy be to focus on white voters?"

Thats O.K for the short term(actually it's not O.K to focus on one racial group)but the ethnic minority population is going to keep growing.

I know that British Asians are very socially conservative but the majority vote Labour any way.Many (like most of the rest of the population)value education,the family believe in a faith,want induvidual freedom to spend their money.They should be natural Tory voters but aren't.

Only when Labour have a clearly failing policy like invading another country do south asians vote for the opposition.

The Conservative party has a long,long way to go before convincing many British asians they should vote for them. Look at their selections for example, not one of the West London constituencies has selected an asian candidate.

It is up to the Conservative party to end underlying hostility shown by a tiny minority of grassroot tories(and don't tell me this hostility is imagined).

Even constituencies that had large Tory marjorities like Brent North and Harrow West have swung hugely to new Labour.

[Chris Buckwell]

We need to make a start in the individual wards - in some areas there are many black voters who have now become British citizens, who were not previously Commonwealth nationals. In London there are large populations in some boroughs of Portuguese, French and enthnic African language speakers. Of course all Commonwaelth citizens have the vote at all elections. In one ward for the Borough elections we came from nowhere (eg no candidates in 2002) to gain significant support by identifying especially ethnic African voters - we produced leaflets in Portuguese, some words in Twi (Ghanaian language), and canvassed with some words in French and Portuguese. Enormously appreciated! It is worth remembering that some fled Communism (eg Angolans), and they were very receptive to us. It is a case of us reaching out, which we should do. Labour will always misrepresent us and our views.
Chris Buckwell - Rochester & Strood and West Ham CCAs.

[Sean Fear]

Passing Leftie, I doubt if left-wing breast-beating would get us very far with any section of the population.

601 A large number of South Asian voters tend to vote in line with the recommendations of "community leaders". For the foreseeable future, Labour will always be able to outbid us in terms of offering them jobs and grants.

So far, at least two Asian Conservative candidates are likely to become MPs, at the next election.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

As Chairman of Tottenham Conservatives, one of the most multi-cultural constituencies anywhere in the UK, I hope the answer is "yes".

I was doing some canvassing of late and met some black voters who were have trouble with Haringey Council (housing repairs). I was able to get their repairs carried out by the council. They are now telling people - family, friends and neighbours - to vote Conservative. We win people over by being out in the community, engaging, helping and talking about everyday issues.

One of the reasons why BME people are hesitant to support us is because the appalling coverage we receive in the black press (which are run by the extreme left-wingers who are even willing to defend hate music and Robert Mugabe!)

[passing leftie]

Passing Leftie, I doubt if left-wing breast-beating would get us very far with any section of the population.

If you think it's left wing-breast beating, then thank you for personifying the exact problem I'm discusing.

Demonstrating you are not racist through word and action is a pre-requisite for black people to vote for you in numbers - it doesn't matter if you appeal to them in other ways. Once they've seen you've left that stuff behind you'll everything else is then worth looking at.

A large number of South Asian voters tend to vote in line with the recommendations of "community leaders". For the foreseeable future, Labour will always be able to outbid us in terms of offering them jobs and grants.

What's your source for this? I think you are implying that South Asian voters are drones who do what they are told. Look to yourselves before accusing others of being bribed and brainwashed.

So far, at least two Asian Conservative candidates are likely to become MPs, at the next election.

Well, having candidates in winnable seats is a step in the right direction.

[Sean Fear]

"What's your source for this? I think you are implying that South Asian voters are drones who do what they are told. Look to yourselves before accusing others of being bribed and brainwashed."

Anyone who has worked in a constituency with large numbers of South Asian voters (such as those in the East End) will recognise the influence that such community leaders have. That is hardly the same as describing people as "bribed and brainwashed"

"If you think it's left wing-breast beating, then thank you for personifying the exact problem I'm discusing"

Allowing someone like you to set the agenda is indeed left wing breast beating.

[601]

Sean said "A large number of South Asian voters tend to vote in line with the recommendations of "community leaders". For the foreseeable future, Labour will always be able to outbid us in terms of offering them jobs and grants."

Passing leftie said"What's your source for this? I think you are implying that South Asian voters are drones who do what they are told. Look to yourselves before accusing others of being bribed and brainwashed."

I have to agree with passing leftie on this (I never thought I would type those words!)
I know many south asians and never have I

1)Come across "community leaders" giving reccomendations who to vote for (The MCB don't coun.)

2)Come across anyone who says I am going to vote labour because the imam said, but I have seen some white people say I am going to vote Labour because their father did.

[Graeme Archer]

I think recently I did that comment-post attack thing to passing lefty, so I feel duty bound as well as pleased to say that I agree with every single word of his post at 16.44.

Particularly point 3. I tried to do a column about this last week, but the words wouldn't come out right, and I didn't feel like my tuppence added anything to the Hastilow debate. But I wanted to write that no politician must ever think that they can talk in generalities about immigration - they must always see in their minds eye the real people about whom they're talking. I think it's failure to do this which leads to the sort of ill-considered speechifying which, if not intended to be racist, can certainly feel virulently unpleasant.

[Votedave]

I think Labour will always be likely to get the overwhelming support of the black vote, as the Democrats do in the USA.
However, David Cameron is probably better placed than any of his predeceasors to gain more support from this voting bloc.

Maybe it would be helpful if Windsor MP Adam Afriyie could play a leading role into wooing their support? William Hague leads a similar campaign to shoring up our support in northern England.

[Tony Makara]

Votedave, I think it can be argued, quite successfully, that the very areas of deprivation that the black communities reside have been failed by almost non-stop Labour rule at local level. It is no coincidence that the most run down areas of our country are Labour heartlands. What does that tell us? It tells me that those communities have been completely let down by Labour. Those communities now need to break away from the Labour party dependence and give their support to the party that wants to end their deprivation. The Conservative party. We need more Shaun Bailey's to get involved, standing in local elections and breaking the damaging Labour monopoly in these areas.

[Annabel Herriott]

It is true that some Asian families are influenced by the community leader, or the Patriarch. Some years ago, I was chatting to a sikh lady that I know well, and I asked her who she was voting for this time around. She said with all sincerity, that she didnt know, as "father has not decided yet, but he is fed up with Labour, so it will probably be Libdem!"

[Mr Angry]

As a Councillor is an extremely ethnically diverse area, one with one of Britain's largest Pakistani Muslim populations, I can catagorically assure both 601 and Passing Leftie that large swathes of the South Asian communities do vote en bloc according to the decision of one particular community leader or the other. I know because I have seen it occur in election after election. This leads to large scale vote harvesting by both Labour and the LibDems based upon their relationship with, and support for the other interests of, certain key individuals. These community leaders normally inherit their status from existing family, village and tribal heirachies back in Pakistan or India where the word of the village chief or elder is law.This is not a criticism of or comment upon that situation, it is simply a matter of fact.

No doubt as the ties to the old country and its traditions fade away, especially with the coming of a new British born generation, this practice will lessen and eventually die away but right now it is real and it is something that we have to address if we want votes from those communities.

[Miranda]

Whilst you are all happily discussing how to win over ethnic tribes from Pakistan, I suggest you read a few of the many, many posts on the Telegraph's website as to why British people are leaving!! British people who are natural Conservative supporters in the main.

Then there's a choice. Do you keep your current voters, or do wait in the wings for years until the tribal leaders favour you? Talk about fiddling whilst Rome burns!!!!

[Yet Another Anon]

Given the UK is 92% white caucasian (according to the last census), wouldn't a more sensible strategy be to focus on white voters?
Given the UK is close to 100% human excluding the BNP and Socialist Labour, maybe it would make more sense to focus on humans generally, and aim at having a society based firmly on strong principles rather than political correctness whether of the Liberal elite, Trotskyite or BNP variety.

[Neil Wilson]

I would shy away from targeting any sort of voter based on their religion, race or ethnicity. Policies that are good for us all as a nation should be the policies that matter.

[Richard]

How about we treat people as individuals? This shunting people into groups is typical of the PC Left.

[Sally Roberts]

Annabel you are right and this is something that I have come across too. It's something which has gone on for years in the various Asian communities and it is not just fathers who have influence, but Imams of local Mosques for instance who can command a whole "block vote"! I don't know how we overcome this problem but we need to learn how to work with it.

[Malcolm Dunn]

Ho w I agree with Neil Wilson and Richard. I dislike intensely the idea that we target voters either on their ethnicity,religion or the colour of their skin. We should leave that entirely to the PC brigade.

[Passing Leftie]

Graham Archer said:
I think recently I did that comment-post attack thing to passing lefty, so I feel duty bound as well as pleased to say that I agree with every single word of his post at 16.44.

Well, knock me down with a feather. Who would have thought it?

To put it succinctly, there is nothing about Tory policies on economics, education, or any other similar issue that can't appeal to black voters, not matter how much I might disagree with them. But the party needs to be welcoming to black people in order for them even to consider your policies. That's what my prerequisites were about.

[Mash]

I am a British Bangladeshi of Asian origin, I am proud to be a member of the Conservative party. I want to genuinely encourage younger voters, not simply professionals, but younger voters who are less likely to vote Tory.

I am in the same constituency as Justin Hinchcliffe who is from the Tottenham Conservative. I am on the other side of the borough in Wood Green and Hornsey wards. I am eager to see greater representation of younger people candidates, like myself, who can draw in and encourage people to vote and to stand for the Conservative party. Haringey is a very diverse borough, with very many different opinions on a wide range of issues, which makes our borough very healthily democratic. There is debate constantly on many diverse issues.

Many younger people at voting age, particularly those between 18 to 25 are disconnected or feel dissolutioned by the political process and local party politics. Many local youngsters I have spoken to, don't even feel voting is important. However, many of them stated that If I were to stand, they would vote for me as a Conservative candidate. Not simply because I am young, but due to growing up in this area for over thirty years. My family have been local residents for many years in this borough. I have grown up and developed through the many issues that has directly affected me and other residents. My three local councillors, only two of them live in the constituency. The other lives in another part of Haringey. Of course, he is a Lib Dem councillor.

We should actively be encouraging younger BME candidates, not only professionals, but younger fresh university graduates to also consider standing in local and General Elections. Let us show that we are an inclusive party that stands for all sections of our society, not only some.

Thanks

Mash