BUILD founding executive committee left to right – Anuja Prashar (Chair), Mehul Thrivedi (Events Officer), Ishvinder Singh Matharu (Vice Chair), Avril Coelho (Membership Secretary), Rajinder Jhooti (Communications Officer), Vina Amin (Treasurer), Marisha Ray (Secretary) – not in photo.
On 31st August 2012, British United Indian Liberal Democrats (BUILD) held its first founders’ meeting. The seven founding members agreed to work together at grassroots level to help London local parties recruit and mentor people of Indian origin, in order to encourage them to stand for local council elections and to increase the Liberal Democrat vote share across the London region. Five of the seven founders are local activists and have previously stood for local council elections.
The founding members of BUILD come from the North, South, East and West of the London region. Exemplifying the inclusive and plural nature of this initiative, they also represent a diversity of faiths including Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Christian. When analysed for the sub category of religion, British Indian population is made up of approximately 79% Hindus, 13% Sikhs, 4% Christians, 2 % Muslims and 2% other (Census data 2001).
The inspiration to forge this group came from combining my doctoral research and experience of being a Lib Dem activist in London over three years. A marked lack of Liberal Democrat members among British Indians in London is in stark contrast to the abundance of this population within the demographic of the region. The number of Liberal Democrat members of Indian origin does not even total 100. According to UK census 2001, London had over 450,000 of Indian origin, with UK Household surveys of 2003 and 2009 suggesting a growth rate of 1.1%. We can therefore assume the London population of British Indians is currently above half a million, the highest concentration of this category in UK.
The social and economic profile of the British Indian category is different from all other minority race and ethnic groups, because their income and education levels are significantly above the national average. For instance, the 2001 census tells us that 35% of the British Indian population is likely to be in managerial or professional employment as compared to 26% of the White British population. 27% of British Indians are likely to have a degree as compared to 17% of the White British population.
With an increased resource for ‘out-reach’ provided by the BUILD organisation local parties will be able to target ethnic minority constituency members with greater confidence and cultural dexterity. Any local party officers who wish to discuss the demographic makeup of ethnic minority populations in their constituency or wish to engage BUILD members to help at local party action days should send a message to executive committee at British United Indian Liberal Democrats on Facebook or contact me directly.
BUILD will be hosting a Divali fund raising event on behalf of the London region in early November. Notice of dates and venue will be sent out to all London local parties soon after the Party conference.
* Anuja Prashar is PPC for Beckenham and chair of British United Indian Liberal Democrats (BUILD)
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12 Comments
It’s interesting to see the blanket terms of “Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats” break down into more discrete groups such as BUILD, Chinese Liberal Democrats etc. While I’m sure different communities have different needs, the overlap in general terms (such as racial abuse affecting all BME communities) as well as intersectionality (such as LGBT+ BME women) must not be ignored by treating people as fitting into small silos.
Hopefully BUILD and other organisations will work through the Diversity Engagement Group to make sure communication between party diversity groups is maintained.
“The social & economic profile of the British Indian category is different from all other minority race & ethnic groups, because their income and education levels are significantly above the national average.”
What about the Chinese?
BUILD is a long overdue initiative Once established in Londoon it should be extended to the rest of the country
@Marafang – EMLD Member Merlene has helped build the Chinese Liberal Democrats
@Dave – DEG has its work cut out EMLD is represented on DEG and acts as a very effective link between grassroots communities and the national Party
Oerhaps it is time for EMLD to create a “affiliates” class such that Chinese Liberal Democrats, The Afica Forum, BUILD etc is able to nominate delegtes to the EMLD Exec
Dave,
The birth of BUILD does not in my opinion ‘water down’ anything, but rather aids in further highlighting the complexity of ethnic and cultural diversity that exists in the UK today. As a British born Sinhalese, Jewish Buddhist, I am rather supportive of BUILD, and given that all of its members are in actuality or by default members of the EMLD, I have no fears.
I do though, having come from the public sector myself, have a fear that the Party itself may need to be reminded that the EMLD is seeking to address more holistic and inclusive issues, than some other groups, and the EMLD exists to aid the Party become more inclusive, and reflective of today’s society.
As for DEG, being a member of this group, I would personally like to see it became more proactive, and the Party exploit the immense skills base that exists within its membership far more in order to confront the Diversity and Equality gaps that are very apparent in our policies, procedures and practices.
Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera
English Party Diversity Champion
(Currently en route to Sri Lanka)
As a local party Chair and former PPC I welcome this initiative. Having tried to start an Emld group in this area I don’t underestimate the work that lies ahead if this group is to be a dynamic and campaigning and not just a local social group. I do hope that they will keep an open door and open mind to India’s Asian neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh in particular, (or is that too big an ask?) and as they become successful provide help and direction to other Regions to set up branches of what could in time become a Party SAO.
” the London population of British Indians is currently above half a million, the highest concentration of this category in UK”. How does Leicester compare?
I assure anyone with concerns, that BUILD is an inclusive organisation for those of Indian origin and those with Interests & association with Indian matters – which must develop in partnership with the party and all other minority groupings. The primary objective is to increase the vote share for Liberal Democrats first in London , then in Leicester (2nd largest concentration and then thin spread of British Indians across major cities) and where ever the resources allow. The method of grassroots development is in keeping with the ethos of Lib Dems. The agreed mission statement is –
“BUILD members are all those of India origin or those with association/interest in Indian matters, who go beyond the mere ‘tolerance’ of diversity, to accept and value cultural, social and economic diversity within British society. Centred on the core principles of pluralism and internationalism, BUILD is founded for the purpose of creating a platform from which those of shared Indian heritage may be recruited to join the Party. Members will all share and promote Liberal principles of pluralism, internationalism, liberty and human rights and will measure their collective actions against these founding principles”.
I consulted with with those of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan before starting this project and we will all continue to work together to make a breakthrough, where the party has so far failed to do so. We all need to take responsibility for moving the agenda forward and only co-operation and collaborative work will be effective in a multi-cultural 21st century.
On the Chinese group – they have higher levels of education and high income levels closer to British Indians, however the numbers are significantly smaller in London and even smaller still across other urban centres – Approximately 96,700 in London with a growth rate of 2.6% . Chinese Lib Dems are doing a superb job targeting and raising awareness out to their communities.
Ruwan, please note that I did not say “water down” anywhere in my comment, and you have misquoted me. I’ll assume this was a mistake caused by your being in transit 😉
I’m curious to know what diversity and equality gaps you see in the party’s policy and procedures – while the gaps in practice is fairly evident, I’m not sure the other two are easily identifiable.
Dave, the single ‘xxx’ inverted comma was being used to highlight that the words used were not my preferred choice, and not as a direct quote of ourself. I could be grammaticaly incorrect, and if so please accept my sincerest apologies.
As for, (now genuine quotation marks being used) “I’m curious to know what diversity and equality gaps you see in the party’s policies and procedures”, a full response would take far too long, but in short, we cannot assure that our practices are inclusive and importantly compliant with legislation, as well as our core values, unless everyone is operating to the same script with regard to their actions.
The Liberal Democrat Party talks of inclusivity, but currently it does not use on a regular basis use any structure of mechanism such as equality impact assessment (EIA) to guarantee as best that it can that when developing policies and procedures that they are done so with full knowledge of all of the E&D concerns. The recent heated discussions regarding the Confernece Accredition process is but one issue that comes to mind. Outside of this forum, I am more than happy to reel off a list, but I do not wish to depress people before the ‘back slapping’, and ‘hugging’ of Conference, with how exclusive, our inclusive Party can be.
If our Party were to start to do EIA’s then it would demonstrate that we do put equality and diversity at the centre of all that we do in a meaningful manner. We as a Party would be able to evidence that we have considered issues, and show our thought process as to how we have reached decisions, which lets face it, whilst we are in Government end up impacting on many people.
I must break off at this point, to scare off the monkey’s that are currently using my roof as a springboard to climb may, or perhaps they seem them as ‘their’ trees. Let’s speak further on this issue, for we will all benefit, if we adopt EIA’s as one of our checking mechanisms.
Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera
English Party Diversity Champion
(Currently in Sri Lanka)
“Why build an Indian organization within…….”.
Er, self promotion?
Good luck with this excellent initiative, Anuja!