In a rain soaked announcement on May 22nd prime minister Rishi Sunak declared that the general election will take place on July 4th this year. (1) The “gaffe-strewn” start to the government’s campaign has seen the opposition Labour party consolidate its two-year opinion poll lead rendering them almost “nailed on” victors, ending the Conservative’s fourteen-year reign and even their possible “extinction” not least due to the candicacy of Nigel Farage for the Reform Company. The Brexit icon’s intervention has all but nullified Sunak’s appeal to right-wing voters now that the real thing has entered the fray. (2)
Even with victory in their sights, Labour’s has not been without setbacks. As Taj Ali of the socialist magazine Tribune surmises:
“Labour’s disgraceful treatment of Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen sends a very clear message to Black and Asian voters — give us your votes and know your place, or face humiliation.” (3)
This treatment is in stark contrast to white candidates like racist, sexual harrasser Neil Coyle or “untouchable bigot” Israel lobbyist Luke Akehurst whose indescretions have been no impediment to their selection. (4)
The Green Party is seeking to occupy the social justice agenda ostensibly abandoned by the Labour Party. In the past it has admitted it “has a problem over its lack of black and ethnic minority candidates” and other issues. (5) For their part the Liberal Democrats has also not escaped being challenged for perceived regressive attitudes. (6)
Thus it appears none of the main parties is demonstrating any particular appeal to the Afrikan community, yet David Weaver, Chair of voter participation charity Operation Black Vote, asserted:
“Registering to vote is a powerful act of resistance against those who wish to divide us,” Weaver concluded. “It’s time to stand up, be counted, and ensure that our voices shape the future of this country.” (7)
As laudable as this position may be, the foregoing does indicate a severe lack of viable options which leaves three options: holding the proverbial nose and voting the least worst; finding an alternative (e.g. independent/smaller party); non-participation.
However, it could be argued that sufficient members of the community have engaged in the electoral process for several decades and derived little substantive gain from it, raising the question of whether grassroots organising outside of the party political process would bring the desired results. It looks like the advocates of the embryonic Pan-Afrikan People’s Parliament, sccheduled to launch in Mosiah this year, would endorse this strategy.
(1) Chas Newkey-Burden (05/06/24) Rain and red faces: the best of Rishi’s election gaffes. https://theweek.com/politics/rain-and-red-faces-the-best-of-rishis-election-gaffes
(2) BBC News (09/06/24) General election 2024 poll tracker: How do the parties compare? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68079726; Simon Walters (07/06/24) The extinction of the Tory party is no longer an impossibility. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/general-election-keir-starmer-farage-labour-reform-b2558690.html
(3) Taj Ali (30/05/24) SStarmer Is Purging Women of Colour. https://tribunemag.co.uk/2024/05/starmer-is-purging-women-of-colour
(4) Herbie Russell (05/06/24) Neil Coyle confirmed as Labour candidate, MP says. https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/bermondsey/neil-coyle-confirmed-as-labour-candidate-mp-says/; Rivkah Brown (07/06/24) Is Luke Akehurst Labour’s Untouchable ‘Bigot’?S eems so. https://novaramedia.com/2024/06/07/is-luke-akehurst-labours-untouchable-bigot/.
(5) Matt Dathan (22/04/15) General Election 2015: Natalie Bennett admits the Green party has a problem over its lack of black and ethnic minority candidates. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-2015-natalie-bennett-admits-the-green-party-has-a-problem-over-its-lack-of-black-and-ethnic-minority-candidates-10193937.html; Morning Star (06/12/19) Green’s equality and diversity officer accuses party of racial discrimination. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/green-equality-and-diversity-officer-accuses-party-of-racial-discrimination
(6) BBC News (15/10/19) Black MP Dawn Butler calls for Lib Dem ‘diversity’ probe. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50058319
(7) Operation Black Vote (05/06/24) OBV Launches Explosive 2024 General Election Voter Registration and Turnout Campaign. https://www.obv.org.uk/blog-post/obv-launches-explosive-2024-general-election-voter-registration-and-turnout-campaign
Who you voting for?
1) Is this election too important to sit out?
2) Are there any viable alternatives to the main parties?
3) Does voting “ensure that our voices shape the future of this country.”?
4) Should we leave the party political process for grassroots organising?
Our Special Guest:
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 over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
GoFundMe for Baba Herukuti: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cosmo-aka-elder-herukuti?qid=29108d7870148f07e175c9e0a4307f7f