Community leaders have a big responsibility too!

Whenever there is talk about race and race relations between the Tories’ and the public it is a given for the likes of Sadiq Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting and minister of state for transport – and most members of the Labour party to jump straight on the Tory bashing bandwagon.

It is what they do and it is how they plow the ethnic vote in every seat and on every election be it local or national.

So, there is little to no surprise there!

But for Simon Woolley, the national coordinator and founder of Operation Black Vote, to jump on the same wagon is shameful.

I thought someone like him “interested in the betterment of race relations and the inclusion and promotion of blacks and ethnics into mainstream politics” will know better than to pander to the political ping pong of Westminster. After all he has via OBV (Operation Black Vote) cultivated many raising Tory politicians such as Helen Grant, Shazia Awan, and Sylbourne Sydial to mention but a few.

Also, very recently he was party to collaboration between the Conservative Party -Cameron Direct at Peckham, south-east London, – where it was evident from the attendances’ reaction that the Tory party of today is very different in that it is more diverse, very inclusive and can have a conversation with all communities regardless of their ethnic origin.

Change although at times is very difficult, it is vital!

It is more of a reason because of that and when it comes to sensitive matters such as race relations that both sides need to exercise caution with their remarks, especially leaders, and those, whom the community listen and look up to. Being a referee comes with the added responsibility of being politically neutral and unbiased.

We are all in this together, let’s act like it!