- Conference
- 2016 National Black Members' Conference
- Date
- 23 September 2015
- Decision
- Carried
Conference, our worst fears were realised on Friday 8th May 2015 as we woke to find that the nightmare of the past 5 years would continue for the next 5, but this time under a small Tory Majority Government.
Nearly 2 million people voted for the Conservative Party giving them a 12 seat majority. In reality this means that with the support of just 25% of the electorate and 37% share of the vote, they will have a mandate to remove fundamental rights both in employment and those that protect our Human Rights and dignity.
UNISON has a long historic link with the Labour Party, and Black communities have traditionally voted Labour. But the message of the campaign did not register with millions of voters offering no alternative, no hope and a Conservative manifesto that will see many more vulnerable people suffer at their hands.
It is reported that the breakdown from the Black community was as follows:
Black vote for Labour 58%, Black vote for Conservative 33% SNP 5%, Lib Dems 5% and UKIP 2%.
As the Black vote grows in size and influence across the UK it will be more important than ever to address the above figures and draw some of these voters back to Labour.
UKIP and its rhetoric surrounding immigration did nothing more than fuel hatred and the dividing of the nation as we forgot to stand up and state ‘we live in a country with an incredible diverse workforce that as a labour movement we should be uniting and not dividing’. The Labour Party did not counter the scaremongering of immigrants which gave a new respectability to a party like UKIP with them gaining nearly 4 million votes and 1 MP in Westminster.
In London, Labour bucked the national trend gaining seven seats – four from the Tories and three from the Lib Dems. That’s half the total number of Labour gains across the country. The UKIP vote in London was also the lowest in the country (8.1%) reflecting the multiculturalism and diversity of the capital.
The SNPs landslide vote almost wiped out Scottish Labour after winning 56 out of 59 seats. We are yet to see a real challenge to the Tories but the Scottish vote will make an impact over the coming years.
Conference, what will Labour need to do to appeal to Black communities and the people of Britain and when will Labour be ready to Govern again?
We recognise and congratulate Labour’s diversity. With 23 Black MP’s, an increase in female representation by 43%, and 13 LGBT MP’s this is a tribute to all of those who campaigned. There are no recorded figures of MP’s with a disability, which Labour will no doubt wish to address.
The debate of our links with Labour will no doubt be a topic for discussion in the coming months however, what we do in fighting back with the onslaught of cuts, cuts and more cuts and austerity will have a new meaning to many. Our members will expect the union to be strong, clear and take the lead in its response.
We must stop looking to the past and focus on ensuring that everyone has a stake in the future as we build a fairer, democratic and more equal sustainable union and Labour Party. We are down, but we are not out.
We therefore call on the NBMC to:
1)Work with Labour Link to explore why the 2015 Labour manifesto, including its employment commitments, did not register with voters and how Black members could contribute and influence future manifesto/policy in the future.
2)Send a message of congratulations to those Black Labour MP’s across the UK who were successful in retaining/gaining a seat and seek to work with them, via Labour Link, on key campaigns in the coming months.
3)Work with Labour Link to develop a campaign to encourage Black members to join the Labour Party, to consider becoming Labour councillors and support that could be provided to facilitate that.
4)Support UNISON’s political campaign strategy, agreed at the 2015 National Delegate Conference, to protect and enhance pay, living standards and gender equality; Defend the rights of trade unions to take action, including industrial action; encourage a fair, inclusive and tolerant society so that no one is left behind and nor is anybody scapegoated for the economic crisis; and seek to ensure that the next UK Government is one which better reflects our values.
5)Work with the NEC on the key organising and recruitment plan to protect the union and ensure we can retain and recruit members in both public, private, community and voluntary sectors.
6)Hold a fringe meeting at National Black Members Conference 2017 in preparation for forthcoming elections, not just in London but across the UK.
7)Report back on activities throughout the year and National Black Members Conference 2017.