Indian and the Election - we don’t get told to sit in third class

The Labour de facto stranglehold on the British Indian block vote is at an end. Why this huge shift?
Ironically a Labour MP put it best. At a National Congress of Gujarati Organisations event organised by this paper, at which I spoke, alongside Labour MP Keith Vaz – Keith pointed out that Lord Feldman (Conservative Party Co-Chairman) had done more to reach out to British Indians than any Conservative in the past. And Lord Feldman said himself that the Conservatives had previously not done enough.
A study by the cross-party group Operation Black Vote (OBV) suggests that in 168 marginal seats, the ethnic minority vote is bigger than the majority of the sitting MP. The Conservatives secured only 16% of the minority vote at the last election, compared with 68% for Labour.
Given how much has been done by the Tories to woo ethnic minorities, acknowledged openly by Labour stalwart Keith Vaz, the figures should improve in this election. And so British Indians clearly could swing this election, as never before.
But as I said in my speech, if there is any part of the political system you are not happy with, you think does not get you as a British Indian, then remember there stands a statue of a Gujarati in Parliament Square. We don’t get told to sit in third class. If we don’t like something, we look it in the eye, we square up for a fight. If the Tories are the Party of Government, and we want some of that, we aint going to sit in opposition sulking with Labour.
So if you think you have Tory values but don’t think the Party would be welcoming, flood the membership, join, make it like you. Because if you don’t and they form the Government, then you are part of the problem – not them. They are ready, willing and able to welcome you. You who goes where they please, you who are the sons and daughters of revolutionaries like Gandhi.
Lord Feldman told me after the event – he can’t understand it, everywhere he looks hugely successful British Indians, yet not at the top of FTSE 100 companies or top of Government – the reason is they don’t have the confidence to apply. Excuses of bias are easy. And yes it is all about who you know – so get out there, and get knowing the right people. There will be no favours just because you’re British Indian, you wouldn’t want favours anyway.
But you already have all it takes, you have the skills, the ability, the reputation of your community that you are the best at all you do and achieve – but success doesn’t knock on your door, you go knock the bloody door down – that’s the Gujarati way in business, in academics, in everything else – and so too it must be in Politics – just blow the bloody doors of opportunity off.