Mobilising the Black Vote
The last few years in British politics have been truly unforgettable. Since 2010, we have had three general elections, a coalition government, two prime-ministers, and an EU referendum. There are not many ways for the British public to show their apathy or engage in democracy but these last few years have been a great opportunity, even if I personally have not been particularly happy with the results.
In 2017, we saw a General election called with a result no-one could have predicted. The Conservatives lost their majority and Labour made gains in unimaginable places but what I found really significant is that Black people had the power to change the political landscape of this country. By voting in marginal constituencies, many places in the UK changed in terms of political representation in the 2017 election. Gaining or losing seats can make a huge difference to Governments and we can see that impact in Parliament today.
In 1965, the Government introduced the Race Relations Act to protect ethnic minorities from discrimination. A lot of positive things have happened as a result. Black people are attending university in higher numbers than ever before and we have the highest ever number of Black and ethnic minority MPs in Parliament and in the media. However, there is so much more to be done. This country has systemic and institutionalised discrimination at its core and it must be tackled. We have very few opportunities as citizens to make a difference, but voting gives us a chance. Black people need to turn out and vote for so many reasons, and here are a few:
- 1 in 5 Black children grow up in poverty.
- Black people are eight times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police than white people. That equates to 29 stop and searches for every 1,000 Black people.
- In 2016/17, Black people were over 3 times more likely to be arrested than White people — there were 38 arrests for every 1,000 Black people.
- Black women were more than twice as likely to be arrested as White women — there were 8 arrests for every 1,000 Black women.
- Between 2009–17, White offenders were given the shortest custodial sentences on average, and Asian or Black offenders were given the longest.
- Black Caribbean pupils were permanently excluded at nearly 3 times the rate of White British pupils (2016/17).
- Black people were the most likely to have been detained under the Mental Health Act in 2016/17 among all ethnic groups.
- Since 2013, a smaller percentage of Black Caribbean people had confidence in their local police compared with White British people
- Across the NHS, Black men and women had lower average monthly basic pay than White men and women — Black men were paid 16% less than White men, and Black women were paid 7% less than White women (2018).
- Between 2007 and 2017, black male graduates earned £7,000 less per year than their white counterparts.
If Black people do not engage and actively work to make change, these statistics will only get worse. By voting, joining a political party, running a campaign, speaking out and using your voice, we can make a real difference and that is why it is so important to me that we mobilise the Black Vote.
Lydia Okoibhole,
BME Liberation Coordinator and P&C Representative
(Information published in the Race Disparity Audit, 2017. (Cabinet Office. 2017. Race Disparity Audit. London: Cabinet Office. Information available from: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/)
