Senior Black Tories bid to shed ‘toxic’ party brand
Senior Black Conservatives are set to launch a new organisation at Conference with the aim of improving relations between their party and the United Kingdom’s African and Caribbean population. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, the Prime Minister’s special envoy for girls’ education Helen Grant and London Assembly Member Shaun Bailey are among the Tory representatives, donors and activists planning to officially set up the group. The launch reception of the “2022 Group”, which describes itself as “the new home of Black Conservatives”, takes place at 9pm on Monday 3 October at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham.
e House understands that those involved hope to shed what they see as the perceived “toxic” nature of the Tory brand among Black people in Britain, while working to increase the number of Black Conservatives in politics. The group intends to provide mentoring, campaigning and networking opportunities to develop future leaders, as well as contribute to domestic and international Conservative Party policy, including a focus on increasing trade with Commonwealth countries.
A source said: “We know that there are many people within the Black population that may have conservative values, particularly around family, education, and enterprise.”
Former No 10 special adviser Samuel Kasumu, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye and businessman Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones are co-ordinating activities ahead of the launch.
The trio first started to discuss the need for the new organisation after Kasumu resigned last year from his Downing Street civil society and communities brief amid a row over the government’s race report. Kasumu is now preparing a bid for the London mayoral election.
Organisers expect the 2021 census to underline the importance of reaching out to ethnic minority voters, as such communities grow and move out of expensive inner-city areas into traditionally Tory seats.