SLAMMED

Bhikhu Patel, Labour councillor for Riversway has spoken out agianst a selection process he says is seriously flawed.

He said, "The party isn't taking active steps to rectify a process that is biased and does not encourage ethnic minority members to be part of the decision making process." Councillor Patel believes that Preston, needs a council that more accurately reflects the make up of the city. Out of 57 councillors on Preston city council, only three, all in the local Labour party, come from the black and Asian community.

"The council is not representative of the community in terms of age, disability and race. Leading councillors aren't aware of how unrepresented the minority ethnic community feel."

"The council should embrace the Asian community and make Preston a role model for other areas. Unfortunately we don't seem to make much of our good fortune."

Coun Patel added, "The party is institutionally racist."

The leader of the Labour Party in Preston, John Collins, denied the accusations.

"This is just nonsense. There is no problem with the selection process as it stands. You cannot take active steps to encourage black or Asian people to stand as councillors, just as you can't take active steps to get more women to stand.

"In an ideal world it would be nice to have more black and Asian people on the council but the fact is they are just not offering themselves. To be a councillor means giving up lots of your time and for some people that is just not possible."

Councillor Patel went on to say that his party should lead the way in actively recruiting more people on to the council from ethnic minorities. He feels, "more black and Asian faces would send out a positive message".

"Asian people in this community are intensely political people. But tragically they do all of their talking about politics behind closed doors. We need to bring these people out into the political process and show them that they have a part to play in the decision making procedures of our city."

Councillor Patel also criticised colleagues within his own party for expecting him to know his place and position. He described council meetings as alienating events where he finds himself marginalised from important decisions.

"Some of the members consider me capable of talking only about race issues. They expect me to know my place and my position."

Councillor Collins responded by saying councillors from ethnic minorities had an equal role to play.

"We value all members of the council and everyone plays their part. At the end of the day it is us, in the Labour party, who actually have people from ethnic minorities. The opportunities inside and outside of the council are not being restricted from people in ethnic minorities. We all have a role to play in this."

The local Conservative party leader, Kenneth Hudson, called on people within the Asian community to become more involved with politics. "It is actually very difficult to get Asian people to become councillors because it can be hard to get them involved. Also, when you do get a good Asian candidate it may be his or her own community, much of which will be Asian, who reject them at the polls."

The Liberal Democrats, who have never had an Asian councillor in Preston, are considering ways of trying to attract black and Asian people towards their party.

Their leader Alan Hackett, who concedes the Labour party is the favoured party of black and Asian people, said he would "love to have an Asian councillor after the next election".

"If we only gained the one seat at the next election I would prefer it went to a black or Asian councillor because I do think they are under represented at the moment."

Councillor Ismael Patel who represents Fishwick ward disagrees with Councillor Bhikhu Patel about racism within the council.

"I do find chamber a little dull and long winded but I don't agree there is racism. Remember it is the Labour Party who has managed to get black and Asian people onto the council."

The newest Asian councillor in Preston, Younis Khan, didn't feel he was discriminated against when he was selected to stand for Labour in St Georges ward. However, a year and a half after his election victory Councillor Khan would like to see positive action to make politics more accessible to black and Asian people.

"The traditional image of the local councillor as a middle aged, middle class, white male needs to change. This is a two way issue, the council needs to reach out to the community more and then the community needs to embrace the council.