The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone hosted a reception at City Hall for London's Black and Minority Ethnic Councillors on December 15th 2003. The event follows the recent publication of 'Ethnic groups in London', the Mayor's report that highlights the changes in London's population and its increasingly diverse ethnic mix.

The report underpins the increasingly important role that London's diverse communities will have on the life of the capital, as providers of public services, culturally, and as business entrepreneurs. There are presently only approximately 220 BME councillors across London. This level of representation appears to be static if not declining according to the results of recent elections. It appears that the BME communities are experiencing considerable barriers to political participation and key decision-making processes.

LOCAL AUTHORITY COUNCILLORS BY ETHNIC GROUP (2001)

The reception provided an opportunity for BME Councillors across the London boroughs to establish a network of support aimed at addressing the following key issues:

• Under-representation,
• Improving race equality
• Developing opportunities for ethnic minority communities to participate in local democratic institutions

The Mayor said: "Currently around 30% of Londoners are from BME groups but only 10% are represented in London's local government. Increasing the representation of BME councillors across London is fundamental to realising our equalities agenda and ensuring that the voices of all of London's communities are heard."

The reception was held in conjunction with the National Association of Black Asian and Ethnic Minority Councillors. Invited guests included London's BME Councillors, borough Leaders, borough Chief Executives, assembly members, ALG Black Councillor's Network Committee members and officers, the commission for Racial Equality, Home office, Government Office for London, Operation Black Vote, Unison Black Members Committee and SERTUC Race Relations Committee.

Speakers included Lee Jasper, Mayor's Policy Director - Equalities & Policing, Councillor Bachan Bhalla, Chair NABEMC, Councillor Sanjay Dighe - ALG Lead Member for Equalities and joint Chair of the ALG BME Councillors Network, Kumar Murshid, GLA Cabinet Adviser Regeneration and Asian Affairs and joint Chair of the ALG BME Councillors Network, Kamaljeet Jandu, Commission for Racial Equality - Lead Commissioner for London and Jenette Arnold, London Assembly Member.

Click here for photos from the BME Councillors reception.
Click here for more details about the 'Ethnic Groups in London' report.

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