Although the local elections from May 4th produced “mixed” results for the main political parties (1), The Voice Online declared that “Black voters won it for Labour”, in reference to its historic council gains in London and the Afrikan community’s ongoing support for the party. (2) Yet there are those that feel that the community’s support for Labour is barely reciprocated to the extent that some claim they feel “politically homeless” due to the party leadership’s apparent reluctance to tackle Afriphobia (anti-Black racism), while zealously pursuing the slightest whiff of “anti-semitism”. (3) Indeed, some commentators are going as far as suggesting that the Conservative Party is “outperforming Labour on diversity.” (4)
Whatever the concerns about the two years of Keir Starmer’s Labour national leadership, it is at the local level where disquiet has been brewing for decades. Just over a year ago Lambeth’s Labour council (along with the Metropolitan Police, who both continue to deny any wrongdoing) had to settle a high court claim against 34 activists, led by the Nation of Islam, over issues of freedom of speech and religious liberty – at a cost of £1.5 million to the taxpayer. (5) Lambeth is the same south London council, that at the time was 94% Labour waged on the beloved community space at 365 Brixton Road as part of its “relentless war of gentrification against the Black Community.” (6)
Of course, there’s the historic Bridge Park complex snatched by Brent’’s Labour administration in spite of palpable concerns about fraud in the deal to sell the site. (7) Even the phenomenally well-regarded Sistah Space organisation have publicised their challenges with Labour run Hackney council (the borough of Child Q), whilst managing to maintain their vital services in spite of it. (8) Currently, the African Caribbean Leadership Council are fighting to keep their iconic centre in Labour controlled Haringey, hoping that they will fare better than the Welbourne Centre in the same borough over a decade ago. (9) Another loss, this time the African-Centre at Ive Farm occurred in Leyton, east London in Labour controlled Waltham Forest at the turn of the century. (10)
The latest centre to appear in the crosshairs is the Hibiscus Caribbean Elderly Association in Newham, east London, a council that is 97% Labour. The centre that has been serving primarily Afrikan Elders since 1984.
Hibiscus is now threatened with closure via license removal after receiving nine complaints from four households in the local area. The centre will be challenging the decision in magistrates court later this month on May 27th . (11) The centre argues that “Removing the licence will undermine social cohesion in the London Borough of Newham and deepen racial disadvantage in the borough.” (12) An online petition in support of the organisation is well beyond 75% towards its target. (https://www.change.org/p/newhamlondon-please-help-hibiscus-caribbean-elderly-association-in-retaining-its-premises-licence-and-save-this-community-hub-from-closure)
Meanwhile the council has been using media allies to get its narrative out (13) amid allegations, shared by one of the centre’s trustees on Afrika Speaks, that councillors are openly smearing the organisation on the campaign trail whilst the authority is trying to impose a 1400% increase on the lease in protracted negotiations.
So faced with a central government or one political stripe that openly touts discriminatory policies and local authorities of the other political stripe that has effectively declared war on Afrikan institutions and services. The “Homeless” term may be in some cases literal as well as metaphorical. As such, we need to ponder our direction going forward. (14)
Beyond the established political parties the interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament (iNAPP) advanced a vision of political self-determination in its 2015 draft manifesto:
“The NAPP will:
Form a government of the Afrikan people in the UK, based upon the philosophy of self- governance, self-reliance and self-determination; grounded in the principles of Maat and Ubuntu and the theory of ‘communiocracy’ where the survival and interest of the community is paramount. In so doing to undertake the following:
• Establish a nationwide, centralized system of self-governance to function at local, regional, national and international levels, organizing Afrikan people in the UK as one sovereign people and nation.
• Procure a headquarters as a national offices in which to house the operations of the central government of the NAPP and to further establish local and regional government offices.
• Harness and organize the professional skills and expertise at the disposal of our people in developing the requisite nation building infrastructure, including independent institutions to meet the needs of our people.
• Be a nationally and internationally recognised and recognisable representative body and voice of the Afrikan people domiciled in the UK.” (15)
Since then, a number of political parties and initiatives have sprung up. So there are choices out there but we’ll have to decide which direction to go.
(1) The Data Journalism Team (08/05/22) Election results 2022: How the parties performed in maps and charts. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61344176
(2) The Voice Online (06/05/22) Black voters won it for Labour – Local election results positive for Sir Keir Starmer’s party in areas with a high black population. https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2022/05/06/black-voters-won-it-for-labour/
(3) Maya Elese (03/07/20) The Labour Party took Black voters for granted and now I feel politically homeless. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/keir-starmer-black-lives-matter-labour-party-465357; Nadine White (02/06/20) Exclusive: Labour Is Losing Black Members Over Allegations Of Anti-Black Racism. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/leaked-labour-report-sees-black-voters-quit-party-over-final-straw_uk_5ea70e55c5b6a30004e62cc0
(4) Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (05/10/21) It’s agonising for me to admit, but Tory conference shows the party is outperforming Labour on diversity. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/tory-conference-diversity-outperforming-labour-1232058
(5) Nadine White (30/05/21) How Black activists took on Lambeth Council and the Met – and won. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/black-activists-lambeth-council-met-b1855916.html.
(6) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (07/11/16) Can we save 365? https://alkebulan.org/2016/11/07/canwesave365/
(7) Holly Chant (25/01/22) Stonebridge community group to keep fighting after losing Bridge Park appeal. https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/community-response-bridge-park-future-plans-8643988; Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (10/12/18) Bridge Park Complex: What do we need to do to keep it? https://alkebulan.org/2018/12/10/afrika-speaks-with-alkebu-lan-on-galaxy-radio-101218-bridge-park-complex-what-do-we-need-to-do-to-keep-it/
(8) Ed Sheridan (11/01/21) Sistah Space campaign accuses council of failure in equalities duty. https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2021/01/11/sistah-space-campaign-accuses-council-failure-equalities-duty/#:~:text=Sistah%20Space%20campaign%20accuses%20council%20of%20failure%20in%20equalities%20duty,-By%20Ed%20Sheridan&text=The%20cross%2Dparty%20campaign%20to,a%20result%20of%20the%20row.
(9) James Flanders (05/05/21) Clash over revamp of Haringey’s West Indian Cultural Centre. https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/west-indian-cultural-centre-haringey-development-row-7902462; Paul Burnham (27/09/11) Haringey senior citizens go into battle against cuts. https://socialistworker.co.uk/news/haringey-senior-citizens-go-into-battle-against-cuts/.
(10) London Borough of Waltham Forest (2017) Ive Farm Sports Ground Newsletter, Edition 1. https://fdocuments.net/document/project-newsletter-welcome-waltham-forest-meet-willmott-dixon-willmott-dixon-are.html?page=1
(11) Clifford Headley (2022) To support Hibiscus Caribbean Elderly Association in retaining its Premises Licence. https://www.change.org/p/newhamlondon-please-help-hibiscus-caribbean-elderly-association-in-retaining-its-premises-licence-and-save-this-community-hub-from-closure
(12) Ibid.
(13) Rachael Burford (13/11/20) Pensioner’s charity social club stripped of its licence over rowdy late night parties. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/newham-pensioners-club-hibiscus-caribbean-elderly-association-stripped-of-licence-over-rowdy-late-night-parties-b69581.html
(14)Lizzie Dearden (13/09/21) Government says discrimination against black people and Travellers ‘objectively justified’ with new laws. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/policing-bill-discrimination-black-travellers-b1919272.html
(15) Interim National Organising Committee (INOC) (28/11/15) MANIFESTO: Working Draft For Community Consultation. interim National Afrikan People’s Parliament.
we ask the question:
Are we politically HOMELESS?
1) Does the Labour Party still deserve our vote (if it ever did).?
2) Is the Conservative Party really “outperforming Labour on diversity” and what does this mean?
3) Have you signed the Hibiscus petition, will you be there on May 27th?
4) Do we need a national political strategy, if so, how would we go about it?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Bro. Clifford Headley: is an experienced Development Consultant and organiser. He is also one of the trustees of Hibiscus Caribbean Elderly Association based in Newham, east London.