5th July 2010

Operation Black Vote (OBV), in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) today launched an MP Shadowing Scheme that will nurture the next generation of Black, Asian and Chinese MPs and community leaders. Over a period of six months 31 individuals will shadow MPs and Peers from all the three main parties, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. Participating MPs include Cabinet Minister Rt. Hon Oliver Letwin, CLG Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Andrew Stunell, Party Leaders Caroline Lucas and Elfyn Llwyd and Labour Leadership candidates - David Milliband, Ed Milliband, Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott.

With guidance from their MPs and Peers and intense training in policy, media, and activism, OBV expect the vast majority of participants to hold political or civic positions in the near future. Others that have been on similar schemes or have been directly assisted by OBV include the First Muslim female cabinet member Sayeeda Warsi, former Cabinet Member Sadiq Khan, and the first female Conservative of African origin Helen Grant who shadowed Oliver Letwin on the last programme.

OBV's Director Simon Woolley stated: The calibre of this year's participants is outstanding. Young men and women from varied backgrounds will inspire a generation, help transform their chosen political parties, and become the type of leaders all society will be proud of. I hope this good news story finds its way into our local and national media'.

Entitled, 'The Dawn of New Politics', the launch reception welcomed the participants to the 'corridors of power' and was ttended by senior Ministers, MPs, Peers with keynote speeches by CLG Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Andrew Stunell, Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan, Simon Hughes MP, Baroness Scott, Andrew Stephenson MP and Lord Herman Ouseley.

Andrew Stunell spoke on the theme of 'Race equality, representation and the Big Society'. He said:"This Government wants a fair society where race and ethnicity are no barriers to taking part. And we'll need to draw on the skills of everyone across the country as we respond to the varied challenges Britain faces today.

"The House of Commons is still disproportionately white but things are moving in the right direction. This scheme will provide 30 ambitious ethnically diverse people with invaluable experience and guidance to help them make parliament and local councils more truly reflect our communities.

"I'm looking forward to working with partners, such as OBV and Ministerial colleagues across Government, to push the race equality agenda forward and improve opportunities for people of all backgrounds.

"I'm really proud to be acting as a mentor to one of the participants in this year's project and hope to one day sit alongside them in the House."

About Operation Black Vote (OBV)

OBV is a non-party political campaign group that is working to address the under-representation of BAME communities in civic and political society. The term "Black" is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities. The Operation Black Vote Shadowing Scheme is the first to specifically target ethnic minorities. The Shadows commit at least six working days to the project over the next six months. This is a voluntary programme and participants do not receive any remuneration, bar basic expenses.

OBV's award winning shadowing schemes have already enjoyed tremendous success. Since the MP scheme began in 1999, nine individuals have been selected as Prospective Parliamentary Candidates and six have been elected as local councillors. This unique national leadership project aims to help address the deficit of Black and minority ethnic (BME) representation within our elected chambers. Out of 650 MPs, 27 are from a BME background. A closer reflection of society would be 55-60 BME MPs.

In their role as Parliamentary Ambassadors, participants will also play a vital role helping to raise awareness amongst Black and minority ethnic communities about our democratic institutions as BME communities on the whole are up to three times as likely to be unregistered as White communities.