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AS THE world absorbs the impact of America electing its first black president, Barack Obama is getting down to work naming the first members of his administration. There is still more than two months until his inauguration. So for the moment, the main effect of his election is simply inspirational: the message that you can do something if you want to enough, no matter what your skin colour.
But it also prompts the question: could Britain elect a black prime minister? The black Londoners we interview today show themselves remarkably sanguine about the possibilities - enthused by Mr Obama but realistic about the practical difficulties. Britain has made enormous strides in race relations over the past 30 years. Legislation has helped, while music and culture are less divided on racial lines than they once were. The kinds of discrimination and up-front racism that used to be commonplace have now largely disappeared, at least in London.
Yet still it is hard for the moment to envisage a black prime minister - not because the prospect might cause a racist backlash but because there are remarkably few credible contenders. No present black Labour politician, such as higher education minister David Lammy or Attorney General Baroness Scotland, looks likely to break through to the front rank. And while David Cameron's search for a more inclusive Conservative Party has brought forward promising black candidates such as Shaun Bailey, the Tory contender in Hammersmith, none of them has even been elected yet, much less climbed the greasy pole. Other impressive black figures, notably Equality and Human Rights Commission chairman Trevor Phillips, have yet to make a mark in electoral politics.
Making Britain a fully inclusive society is a continuing task for the whole nation. But in the end, only the black community itself can bring forth a British Barack Obama.
Reality check
THE MAYOR'S cutbacks to Transport for London's plans are a belated recognition of reality. Boris Johnson has today scrapped £3 billion-worth of schemes hatched under his predecessor, Ken Livingstone, including a Croydon Tramlink extension to Crystal Palace (£170 million) and the extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Dagenham docks (£750 million). Instead, the transport budget will be focused on securing Crossrail and on upgrades to the Underground.
Critics have accused Mr Johnson of scrapping vital projects, but the truth is that under Mr Livingstone TfL trumpeted ever-more-ambitious plans - new tramways, bridges and public spaces - mostly without the slightest financial underpinning. When challenged, officials would admit that schemes such as the Cross River tram and the Thames Gateway bridge might have to be scrapped if more central government cash was not forthcoming - yet Mr Livingstone continued to present them as definite prospects. Worse, consultancy work on the schemes has already cost £70 million.
London needs a better transport network, but it must be affordable. We hope that TfL will in time be able to start ambitious new tramways and the like, if central government comes up with the money. Until then, it is better to focus on Crossrail and on improving our creaking Tube network.
And celebrating...
ESCAPISM. The O2 arena goes from strength to strength. Having established itself as London's premier large venue, it now plans a live adaptation of the epic Ben Hur for next September, complete with chariots and large numbers of animals including camels and eagles. We trust that getting all the animals to act on cue will be within the capabilities of the O2 and the show's organiser. With the economy going in the direction that it is, we could be in need of some serious dramatic escapism by next autumn.
Reader views (5)
I think it is very sad that the editor of The Evening Standard is backing the use of animals in the planned 'spectacular' by O2. It is a retrograde step back to the days of cruel circuses, dog and bear baiting, and other animal torments. Sadly, many of these are common practices in other countries, which doesn't mean they are morally right. Perhaps the endorsement is the Evening Standard's contribution to diversity.
- Helen, norwich, 07/11/2008 10:49
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With regards to Yasmin Alibahai-Brown comments (Black Hereos who honour their white roots). It appears she totally misunderstood why people got upset when she states that Barack Obama isn't black, he is mixed-race. It is up to the individual what to class his/herself. The fact that Mr Obama and Lewis Hamilton have called themselves "black" tells me that that is how they see themselves. That is their choice, and it is not for the likes of Ms Alibhai-Brown to determine what a person should call oneself or who she considers black.
To summarise - Black people have over the years have been dictated to as to who they should look up to and admire and what to call themselves. This was enslavement, colonialism and imperalism. This is a new era, and is no longer acceptable. I'm sure Ms Alibhai_Brown would find me rude if I told her she is not African (Even though she was born in Uganda) but Asian. That is not for me to decide but her choice to make. Surely she can appreciate that
- R Lander, London, U.K., 06/11/2008 23:10
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Many British organisations & government bodies, particularly under the Labour Government, have really been only followers of fashion when it comes to race equality, and good at celebrating diversity, but not necessarily when it matters. And where people do not (want to) follow good practice, they are good at justifying why they cannot do so. For example appointing black and asian ambassadors has been a practice in America for many years, black and asian politicians abound, black and asian achievers get to the top, and they even have something called Affirmative Action which will probably never be passed under PM Gordon Brown. Even now the government is trying to exclude blacks and asians from its shores under its Points Based Migration Programme: only new EU citizens seem welcome. Look at the Metropolitan Police, or how the Gurkhas were treated recently. It just does not inspire confidence in minorities.
It needs guts from individuals to buck the trend. It needs leadership from the people who are supposed to govern us to really treat everyone equally. Perhaps under a Conservative Government, inspired by the Obama effect, things would finally move forward.
- Gene Alcantara, London, 06/11/2008 16:40
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There are no real contenders in the UK on the basis that people do not relate to Black politicians. This is because most of them lack charisma or personality, even worse, most of them barely identify with the Black community unless they have to. Worse still most of the Black poiliticans do not have Black partners, that alone does not inspire. When we can see a Black politician with a Black partner, may then we can say he is representing us. These lot who are so called representing us, are doing what they can but sadly, we will never see a Black Family in Downing Street, it will be an Asian or Chinese person first. P.S. People can choose who to love, but the Black community will also choose their own Barack Obama
- Delroy Constantine-Simms, New York, 06/11/2008 15:06
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The difference between a black PM and a black President is that african americans make up a far larger proportion of the population than in the UK and have been indigenous for a far longer time. The vast majority of immigration to this country has happened in the last thirty years - you might as well ask for an asian PM or a chinese one.
- Squiz, Islington, 06/11/2008 13:49
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