1989 Black Sections Press Statement

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This 1989 press statement was issued by Narendra Makanji, Chair of the Labour Party Black Sections, Bernie Grant MP, and Southwark Black Councillors following a meeting in the House of Commons. It expresses strong criticism of the Labour Party leadership’s handling of race equality issues and black political representation. The statement highlights concerns over the disqualification of black candidates, closures of Race Equality Units, and a lack of progress in supporting black MPs within the party.

Key points:
– Sharon Atkins was disqualified from her parliamentary candidacy, signaling barriers for black candidates.
– Alistair Darling was appointed the Labour Party’s spokesperson on race, which was viewed as insensitive by the authors.
– Several local government Race Equality Units were closed, showing a reduction in institutional support for race equality.
– The Labour Party failed to select a black candidate in the Vauxhall constituency, which was described as an insult.
– A public meeting of black councillors, MPs, activists, and trade unionists was planned to address these issues and demand accountability from the Labour Party’s NEC.

This press statement reflects Bernie Grant’s commitment to challenging systemic racism within the Labour Party and advocating for increased Black British political representation. It captures a moment when Black Sections pushed back against the party’s retreat from race equality commitments in the late 1980s, underscoring ongoing struggles for anti-racist reforms and community activism in British politics.

Source note: The text was sourced via OCR from an original press statement; some minor transcription uncertainties remain but the core content and meaning are clear.