MAYOR TO SUPPORT ETHNIC MINORITY COUNCILLORS
(Friday 3 October 2003)

Mayor Ken Livingstone is to work in partnership with the National Association of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority Councillors (NABAEMC) to improve ethnic minority representation across London Boroughs. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of race equality developments in service planning and delivery in the capital and encourage ethnic minority councillors to share best practice. The partnership will also establish a network of support aimed at improving race equality and opportunities for ethnic minority communities.

Recent research shows that almost 30 percent of Londoners are from BME groups but less than 10 percent of London’s borough councillors are from these groups. The table below shows the number of Local authority councillors, by ethnic group in England and Wales and London in year 2001.

Councillor Bachan S Bhalla MBE, Chair of NABAEMC states: 'I strongly welcome this new partnership and the Mayor’s commitment to progressing race equality. We evidently still have a very long way to go in improving the political representation of the ethnic minorities at all levels and there is undoubtedly a great deal of work still to be done in achieving equitable service-delivery outcomes for diverse communities. However, I am sure that this partnership will, by increasing the collective contribution of ethnic minority councillors, bring a new focus, energy and drive to these issues.'

Lee Jasper, Policy Director to the Mayor on Policing & Equalities said: 'The Mayor’s partnership with NABAEMC means we can work towards our shared vision of better representation of ethnic minorities and increased diversity in London Boroughs.'

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