By Councillor Dr Sam Ismail Jalili

I am writing to you as a member of the Liberal Democrat Party, a local councillor and one who is also involved in community and international politics.

I felt the time was opportune given the changes being made by the new prime minister in relation to the issue of relying on expertise rather than party affiliation.

I would very much like to see this extend to our party, and particularly in the following areas.

a. My observations recently is that the Party is having an increased reliance on inexperienced advisors whom, from personal encounters, are disinterested in listening to opinion of experts; a case in point being the health meeting in Harrogate. I believe that the party should make use of those with experience in the field rather than simply viewing policy as a bureaucratic exercise.

b. The Party needs a review of the system whereby senior people with specific expertise are given the opportunity to contribute to the Party and policies at the levels commensurate with their abilities. The current selection procedures are based on very rigid criteria which appear to be aimed at recruiting a very narrow base of candidates, mostly young, whilst more senior candidates, whose professional backgrounds make the procedure an anachronism, are sidelined.

c. In terms of the Party’s policy towards black and ethnic minorities, my fear is that we are following a path in our approach to black and ethnic minorities which only serves to enhance the old colonial approach ie by emphasizing colour and discrimination by the colour of one’s skin. This has been adopted by many of the black and ethnic minorities to an extent that it has become divisive to our communities. It has made them, and other political groups, ignore the rising inter-ethnic racial problems and abuses and prejudices among minorities and a consequent increase in crime in this country. I am attaching my presentation to the CRE which highlights that ethnicity is not black and white but a spectrum of colours, cultures and ideologies and unless we dispel this colonial approach to colour, which is offensive to many people, we are going to trigger more division in society.

I trust that my observations will be taken in the spirit in which they are given; I continue to believe strongly that the Liberal Democrats offer the best hope for Britain and seek only to address concerns which I have.

With kind regards

 top