Race to win minority vote

By Alison Freeman
BBC News, London


Black and ethnic minority voters allegiance is thought to be changing

The papers have been full of stories of growing-support for the British National Party, especially in London.
In response, Conservative leader David Cameron has made a point heavily criticising the far-right group and their policies he says are "based on hatred".
Previously the Tories have led unsuccessful general election campaigns on immigration policies and these very public attacks can be interpreted as a clear indication of image change.


In addition, could they be an attempt to cash in on the growing ethnic minority middle classes who no longer feel allegiance to the Labour party?
Tony Travers, a local government expert at the London School of Economics, said he believes this is the case.

There's definitely an emerging black middle class but it's nowhere near the size of that in the US

Ashok Viswanathan
Operation Black Vote
He said: "Making sure that he (David Cameron) is seen by the established minority community, the black and Asian community in particular, as being in bitter opposition to the BNP helps on the centre ground and helps with winning the very large black and Asian vote.


"And there are lots and lots of votes to win."
The Tories are not the only party to have targeted minority groups. In the past the Liberal Democrats claimed they were the "natural home of black and Asian voters" after disillusionment with Labour over the Iraq war.
And just a few weeks ago Tony Blair called on black churches to encourage its members to go to the polls, saying they could shape the way the country is run.
Not convinced
London's immigrants have traditionally lived in the city's central and more deprived boroughs and were more likely to vote Labour.
As the second and third generations of these communities become more established, affluent and move to the outer boroughs, experts believe their political views are changing.


But Ashok Viswanathan, assistant director of Operation Black Vote, which aims to get as many black, Asian and minority ethnic into the voting booths as possible, is not completely convinced by this theory.


Elections are becoming much more fluid but this is a general indication of how voting is changing

Tony Travers
London School of Economics
"Traditionally, a large section of black communities, particularly African Caribbean, but also Asian, voted Labour.
"It's true that if you are more wealthy there are reasons you might vote for the Conservative party but I would question the level of growth in minority ethnic communities.


"If you look for example of the Bengalese community you are still seeing pockets of deprivation, in housing, education and health.
"There's definitely an emerging black middle class but it's nowhere near the size of that in the US and it's an indeterminable amount."
Mr Travers said migration within London itself by non-minority groups also affects the polls.


Changing demographic
For example Tower Hamlets, in east London, was what he calls an "absolute Labour stronghold" and from the 1960s with the party achieving 80% of votes made in the borough.


But the support declined and in the 2002 elections the Liberal Democrats had a surge in support in the borough and Labour achieved just 44%.
Mr Travers said these changes can be put down to the shifting demographic and the "gentrification" of the area with non-migrants coming into the borough, enticed by Canary Wharf.


"Elections are becoming much more fluid but this is a general indication of how voting is changing. "People are less satisfied with the main parties and are looking at the emerging smaller parties."


Mr Viswanathan agrees with this sentiment and said: "I think it's too early to say if voting trends are changing - it's not a particularly long history for black and minority ethnic communities. "But I do think there could be a slow change, with the emergence of smaller parties and with a three-party state."

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[align=center]Black Empowerment[/align]

[align=center]It would be nice to hear what he has to say about this politician and his "black empowerment" now.[/align]