Cllr Iain Lindley's Diary

According to the Times this morning, Salford Labour MP Hazel Blears wants to see more local government candidates and Councillors from ethnic minorities. I agree with her – Councils should be representative of the communities which they serve.

Hazel could perhaps start by looking at her own backyard. Her own Salford Labour Party has an absymal record of promoting ethnic minority candidates in local government. Let’s have a look at the evidence:

Labour Councillors in Salford: 42
Ethnic Minority Councillors: Nil

2007 Salford Labour Council Candidates: 20
Ethnic Minority Candidates: Nil

2006 Salford Labour Council Candidates: 22
Ethnic Minority Candidates: Nil

Presumably Hazel will be having a stern word with her own members on this issue, although I won’t be holding my breath - pure hypocrisy has never been a problem for Salford Blairites.

Salford Conservatives select our candidates on merit and merit alone, and at this year’s elections we had three very able ethnic minority candidates all of whom would be assets to the City and to the Council. I look forward to welcoming them as fellow Councillors in the near future!