Thursday May 3rd 2018, will see nationwide polls in the UK for the forth successive year (2015 – General Election; 2016 – UK European Union membership referendum; 2017 – General Election) with local elections in all 32 London boroughs, 34 metropolitan boroughs, 67 district and borough councils and 17 unitary authorities. There will also be direct elections for the Mayoralties of Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford.

Although predicated on local issues they are also seen as a national barometer. For example, The Guardian newspaper cites “Austerity, the Windrush scandal and Brexit” as “underscoring the government’s callousness, incompetence and poor judgement” and urges voters to give Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May and her party “a bad night.” (1) The bad night started four days early with resignation of Home Secretary Amber Rudd on April 29 saying she “inadvertently misled” MPs over targets for removing illegal immigrants. (2)

The Afrikan community historically has needed little encouragement to vote against the conservatives, not least because of the persistent view that “The number-one driver of not voting Conservative is not being white.” (3) In addition to this Afrikans are notoriously committed to the Labour Party – to the tune of 73% in last year’s general election, a six percent increase on the 2015 poll. (4)

The ascension of Jeremy Corbyn to party leader was inevitably a factor in the surge in Labour support, particularly among black activists. with formations such as Africans for JC Values and Momentum Black Connexions (MBC). As then (MBC) media officer Marc Wadsworth outlined soon after Corbyn’s leadership victory:

“Jeremy has the best record on anti-racism, anti-imperialism, Black self-organisation and Black self-determination of any Labour leader since the foundation of the party and that is why he is so popular in our communities. On the issue of black political representation, we note the unprecedented amount of African, Caribbean and Asian MPs he appointed to his shadow cabinet.” (5)

This kind of appraisal, not only from Labour members, but also seasoned activists with no apparent party allegiance contributed to the rise in Labour Party support. (6) The big irony is that, just a few days ago and less than two years after other prominent Black activists Marlene Ellis and Jackie Walker were suspended (7), Marc Wadsworth was expelled by the Labour Party for allegedly “breaching party rules.” (8) The Wadsworth, Ellis and Walker cases have been linked to the so-called “anti-semitism issue” engulfing the Labour Party. The further irony is the allegation that ”Israel put up a £1,000,000 bounty for Labour insiders to undermine Corbyn.” (9) With this level of intrigue swirling around, it’s hard not to arrive at the conclusion that this whole issue is not as clear cut as some sections of the Labour Party and mass media are indicating.

So while the corporate Labour message constantly reiterates its commitment to fight anti-semitism, the predilection for scapegoating Afrikan members is a cause for concern. Some might consider this a clear case of Afriphobia. (10 ). Consequently, it seems to matter little who the leader is, the Labour Party can dismiss Black members at will whilst still relying on the Black vote.

At the local level Labour also appears to pursue policies that are at odds with it’s core constituency such as accusations of “social cleansing” under the guise in regeneration in Labour controlled London boroughs like Lambeth, Lewisham and Haringey. (11)

Additionally, Lambeth council comes in for criticism for it’s outrageous gagging of the Nation Of Islam at the 2017 Africa International Day of Action (12) and it’s campaign against the 365 community centre in Brixton (13). In Haringey, the campaign to save the Welbourne Centre, a hub for community elders, fell on deaf ears (14) while the local the authority also waged a relentless crusade to close the Black-led John Loughborough Seventh Day Adventist School. (15)

In terms of alternatives, the Windrush scandal demonstrates that the Conservatives are still very much seen as the “Nasty Party” (16), whereas the Liberal Democrats have their ongoing white issue. (17) The Green Party has seen it’s profile rise in recent years but it still has only one MP out of 650 and 176 council seats out of 19,031. Electorally, it has a mountain to climb.

Another approach would be to eschew the ideological identification with any party and vote with regard to group strategic interest. The major drawback here is that not only is there no existing strategic group position there is currently no functioning vehicle through to establish and articulate it. This is something that the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament (iNAPP) firmly had on its agenda until it’s leadership implosion in February 2015.

(1) The Guardian (29/04/18) The Guardian view on local elections: good reasons to give May a bad night. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/29/the-guardian-view-on-local-elections-good-reasons-to-give-may-a-bad-night

(2) BBC News (29/04/18) Amber Rudd resigns as home secretary. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43944988

(3) Paul Goodman (06/06/12) Cameron created Warsi – will he be forced to destroy her? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9312923/Cameron-created-Warsi-will-he-be-forced-to-destroy-her.html/

(4) Josh Holder, Caelainn Barr and Niko Kommenda (20/06/17) Young voters, class and turnout: how Britain voted in 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/ng-interactive/2017/jun/20/young-voters-class-and-turnout-how-britain-voted-in-2017

(5) The Latest.com (30/06/16) Black Labour members back Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. https://www.the-latest.com/black-labour-members-back-jeremy-corbyns-leadership

(6) Akala (12/05/17) By choice, I’ve never voted before. But Jeremy Corbyn has changed my mind. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/12/never-voted-before-jeremy-corbyn-changed-mind. Szee also Toyin Agbetu of ” Ligali. In a YouTube video published on May 12th, Bro. Toyin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC_u1PKobzs&t=46s)

(7) Jewish News Online (08/06/16) Labour suspend Momentum activist for saying Zionists ‘involved with Nazis’. http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/labour-suspend-momentum-activist-for-saying-zionists-involved-with-nazis/

(8) David Hughes, Sam Lister (27/04/18) Labour expels member who heckled Jewish MP at launch of antisemitism report. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-marc-wadsworth-expelled-heckler-jewish-mp-antisemitism-report-ruth-smeeth-jeremy-corbyn-a8325261.html

(9) Kerry-anne Mendoza (28/03/18) REMINDER: Israel put up a £1,000,000 bounty for Labour insiders to undermine Corbyn. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/datablog/ng-interactive/2017/jun/20/young-voters-class-and-turnout-how-britain-voted-in-2017

(10) Amani Olubanjo Buntu (Ed) (2003) OFFICIAL REPORT: Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants World Conference Against Racism. Afrikans and Afrikan Descendants World Conference Against Racism 2002 and the Global Afrikan Congress Secretariat. https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/6d195c_6003cd8648f842779d13573474734981.pdf

(11) Kirsty Major (03/11/17) Why are Labour councils in London being accused of social cleansing?. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/labour-estate-regeneration-council-homes-gentrification-accused-of-social-cleansing-why-a8035851.html

(12) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (07/08/17) Government “Gagging Order” Against NOI – What Does It Really Mean?

(13) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (07/11/16) Can we save 365?

(14) Toyin Agbetu (29/09/11) Elders forced to campaign against closure of community hub. http://www.ligali.org/article.php?id=2252

(15) Kai Ouagadou-Mbandaka (2009) John Loughborough School – Anatomy of A Campaign. The Whirlwind, Issue 7, p. 7-8

(16) Tim Wigmore (15/10/14) Fifty years on, the Conservative party’s race problem remains. http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/10/fifty-years-conservative-partys-race-problem-remains

(17) Operation Black Vote (22/09/15) Spot the Black Lib Dem? http://www.obv.org.uk/news-blogs/spot-black-lib-dem

we ask the question:

Is it time for our own political party?

1) Are you voting in the election ?

2) Does the Labour Party have an Afriphobia problem?

3) Does Labour take the Black vote for granted?

4) Are either Conservatives, Lib Dems or Greens viable alternatives?

5) How could we go about establishing our strategic group interests.?

Bro. Rashid Nix: entered politics in 1999 when he coordinated mentoring programmes for Westminster Race Equality Council. He was also a member of their team training Met police as part of government recommendations. Rashid is keen to promote civic engagement and responsibility. His ground-breaking political film, Why Don’t Black People Vote? explores low voter turnouts to engage audiences, of all races and ages, in discussion. A South Bank University graduate, he trained as a cameraman at the BBC, and coordinates the Brixton Underground Film Festival; where film, politics, entertainment and discussion collide. He stood for Councillor in Coldharbour Ward for the Green Party in 2014 and will do so again on May 3rd. An effective communicator, he mentors students for the Mentoring Workshop, and presents The Peoples Talk Show on Genesis Radio.