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Welcome to Ethnic Minorities Liberal Democrats

The Ethnic Minorities Liberal Democrats (EMLD) exists to develop the education, participation and representation of ethnic minorities within the party.

EMLD organises recruitment and training and promotes ethnic minority members towards greater involvement in the political processes of the party.

EMLD pursues a policy of equal opportunities for all and seeks positive action to bring about equal opportunities for ethnic minority members of the Liberal Democrats.

EMLD is a Specified Associated Organisation (SAO) within the Liberal Democrat Party. It has various rights enshrined within the main Federal Party Constitution. You have to be a member of the party to be a member of EMLD.

Recent updates

  • Article: Jan 5, 2012
    By Cllr Rabi Martins in Asian Voice

    It has taken a while but the signs are that the Liberal Democrats are beginning to flex their muscles and risk causing their senior coalition partners a degree of unease.

    Not for the first time Baroness Warsi has accused Simon Hughes of trying to wreck the Coalition. Simon will wear this as a badge of honour because he sees himself as the champion of his party activists and not as a mouth piece for the coalition government. He is of course absolutely right to do so. Whilst the majority of Lib Dem members supported the decision by the leadership to enter into a coalition with the conservatives, there is no hiding the fact that a growing number have recently started to ask if the party was paying too high a price for the privilege of being in government. The Party's poor showing in the polls and the battering the party took in last year's local council elections served only to increase this sense of unease.

  • Stephen Lawrence
    Article: Jan 3, 2012

    Today two of the murderers of Stephen Lawrence, who was brutally killed in a racist attack in 1993, have been brought to justice.

    Issan Ghazni, Chair of EMLD said:

    "I hope that this verdict will allow some sense of closure for the Lawrence family, friends and supporters who have worked with determined integrity to make sure that justice has finally been seen to be done. We hope they will regain some peace in their lives."

  • Christmas decoration
    Article: Dec 19, 2011
    By Issan Ghazni

    Christmas is a special time for many people - a time for rest from work, for family and friends, for presents and good food. This is a time for traditional celebrations around a great religious festival, one of the most important in the Christian year.

    Whilst religion and culture are often seen in some parts of the world as sources of division, difference and conflict, we should see them as valuable opportunities to bring people together and to learn from the core teachings of tolerance, respect for others and treating everyone as a neighbour, no matter what race, creed or colour. For me as a Liberal, the need to show understanding, tolerance and support for other fellow human being is far more important than dwelling on any cultural or religious differences.

  • Lester Holloway speaking on the diversity motion
    Article: Nov 28, 2011
    By Cllr Lester Holloway in Lib Dem Voice

    We have grown used to politicians approaching the issue of 'race' in the context of immigration, crime, or the aftermath of a tragedy.

    So it was enormously refreshing to hear Nick Clegg offer up a well-informed speech on the quest for true race equality, without a negative backdrop.

    Delivering a Scarman Lecture on the 30th anniversary of the ground-breaking report into the 1981 Brixton riots, Clegg gave arguably the best speech on race equality by a Cabinet minister.

  • Nick Clegg
    Article: Nov 26, 2011
    By DPM Nick Clegg

    The Deputy Prime Minister delivered the Scarman Lecture, hosted by the People Can charity, in Brixton on 24 November 2011.

    "This event marks the 30th Anniversary of the Scarman Report...
    Three decades after the Brixton Riots.
    Brian Paddick, a Liberal Democrat colleague of mine...
    Was a young sergeant on the streets in 1981...
    Before becoming the police commander in charge of the area twenty years later.

  • Article: Nov 26, 2011
    By Cllr Rabi Martins in Lib Dem News

    However much we try the issue of Race and racial bias simply won't go away. Last week our own Duwayne Brooks had to give evidence in the case relating to the racially motivated murder of Steven Lawrence. Hard to believe the event took place almost 15 years back. It is even more worrying to note that racial disadvantage and racial abuse continues to plague our society

  • Diwali Dinner at Bombay Palace Nov 2011
    Article: Nov 15, 2011
    By Anuja Prashar

    The Liberal Democrats celebrated Divali for the first time at a national level, with chief guest speakers Simon Hughes MP and Baroness Ros Scott, at the Bombay Palace in central London on 9 Dec. The occasion was also attended by special Liberal Democrat guests Lord Loomba and the Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick with his team of GLA candidates.

  • Article: Oct 26, 2011

    In a message to Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, the Deputy Prime Minister has sent greetings for Diwali, the festival of lights.

    Mr Clegg said:

    As well as the great shows of colour that brighten streets around the world at this time of year, Diwali is also a time of great charity, from which we can all draw inspiration.

    The Deputy Prime Minister also recognised the invaluable contribution of Indian culture to Britain:

    Indian culture is now inextricable from the British way of life, and the contribution of the Indian community to our business, culture and the military is unassailable.

    "The power of togetherness to overcome uncertainty an important message, especially in these straitened times, and I hope you all enjoy your Diwali celebrations. Saal mubarak."

    http://www.youtube.com/user/deputyprimeminister#p/a/u/1/36JU-p_yRGE

  • Cllr Michael Bukola
    Article: Oct 3, 2011
    By Cllr. Michael Bukola - South Bermondsey ward, Southwark Council in Operation Black Vote website

    The issue of BME representation remains high on the Party agenda. Thousands attended this year's Autumn Party Conference in Birmingham which kicked off with the traditional party rally themed "In Government, on your side".

    The rally launched the Candidate's Leadership Programme, aimed at the Party's brightest and best from under-represented groups with the drive, integrity and talent to become future Members of Parliament. One budding hopeful is Cllr Chris Lucas from Three Rivers District Council who was one of the first nominees to be selected onto the Programme.

    Chris gave an impressive performance stating the Party was "too male and too pale" and change was vital in order to appeal to a wider electorate. This call to arms by Lucas was supported by the Party Leadership when Leader Nick Clegg referred to his disappointment by not returning a single BME MP at the last General Election.

    Over the duration of Conference, a range of party motions were debated on Employment & Support Allowance (ESA), Education, the NHS, Quality of Life, an emergency motion on the Riots summarised by Brian Haley, the recent LibDem London Mayoral contender and the Violence against Women debate with Cllr Eliza Mann speaking for the first time at Conference from Southwark Liberal Democrats. Cllr Mann spoke with conviction at highlighting the issue of human rights abuses against women in Sri Lanka.

    EMLD were well represented with their fringe meetings this Autumn on Turkey and its role within the EU, and the "Where next for Multiculturalism?" debate hosted by Issan Ghazni, Chair of EMLD. The debate was facilitated by Issan in the context of the Government's Prevent strategy to tackle extremism and promote community cohesion. Speakers included columnist and broadcaster Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Minister for Communities & Local Government, Andrew Stunnel MP.

    Other fringe meetings this Autumn included the newly formed LibDem Forum for Africa, a programme which sought to advise party activists, campaigners and local parties on understanding Sub-Saharan Africa and exploring the political agenda in terms of international affairs, world poverty and its impact here in the UK as a mainstream political issue.

    As a local Lib Dem Councillor in Southwark, I was called upon to speak on how the Party can engage more with African communities in Britain and overseas.

  • Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
    Article: Sep 21, 2011

    In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

Introduction by Chair of EMLD Issan Ghazni at Diversity Fringe event, Sheffield Spring Conference 12.3.11