LABOUR will appoint a diversity tsar in the hopes of inspiring more women, members of underrepresented ethnic groups, and people from working-class backgrounds to run for government at all levels and in all political parties.
The external adviser will collaborate with Angela Rayner, the deputy Labour leader, at the Cabinet Office to develop an action plan, as well as with the Electoral Commission to remove barriers.
Insiders claim that Labour’s candidate mentorship programmes, such the Bernie Grant leadership and the Jo Cox women in leadership programmes, are already addressing the party’s representation issues, so the tsar’s role will not be limited to improving representation within the party.
Instead, the adviser will make suggestions based on addressing obstacles that prevent many members of underrepresented groups from running for government.
According to reports, Rayner is dedicated to increasing representation from all parties so that politicians are no longer cut off from or unable to fully understand the impact of the policies they execute.
Rayner said: “Representation shapes which issues get debated in the first place and what is up for decision. You might learn by asking or listening, but the lived experience adds a different quality – and gives a different perspective. Lived experience brings its own expertise.”
Labour members have expressed concern that the party has marginalised many voices that have first-hand knowledge of dealing with racism, Islamophobia, sexism, and working-class prejudice, because they are traditionally viewed as being on the left of the party.
The party has had huge issues with accusations of antisemitism in the past and some remain scarred by it.
In terms of female representation in parliament, Britain comes in at number 20 out of the 38 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations.
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