The Fawcett Society has welcomed the launch of Reflecting Britain and its call for more women Lib Dem MPs.

Jenny Westaway from Fawcett commented:

Fawcett supports Reflecting Britain’s campaign to increase the number of women and Black and Minority Ethnic MPs in the Liberal Democrat Party. As long-standing campaigners on women and politics, we are pleased to see the challenge to the Lib Dem leadership candidates. Fawcett believes that every party must adopt positive action to ensure that the MPs who represent us, reflect our nation more closely.

Peter Black AM weighs in:

I am supporting the Reflecting Britain campaign because I believe that the Liberal Democrats need to better reflect the diverse society we live in at all levels. In particular we need more Parliamentarians who are women or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

This though is not just about the Liberal Democrats. If the mainstream political parties fail to be open and welcoming to all then disillusion with and alienation from the political system will grow. This campaign is about engaging with people at the broadest possible level. It must not become yet another badge or label, it must be the start of real action to secure the inclusive society that Britain needs.

I’m backing the Reflecting Britain campaign because although the party has made some progress on representation in recent years, I’m worried that the progress is too slow. Our message should appeal to many more people than it does, and it should inspire many more people to join the party and stand in elections. But we just aren’t getting through to everyone. There needs to be a coherent approach and Reflecting Britain is proposing some excellent measures.

Dr Richard Grayson is the former Liberal Democrat Director of Policy and was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hemel Hempstead in 2005.

The Chair of the Ethnic Minority Election Task Force Cllr Rabi Martins has explained his reasons for supporting the Reflecting Britain campaign, and calls for the Lib Dem leadership contenders to outline their position:

It is good to see the spirit in which the leadership contest is being conducted..open, frank and friendly…. in other words … Very Lib-Dem!!!

Clearly all the three contenders have the capability to continue the work Charles started of building support for the party to maintain our postion as the real opposition and prepare us for even greater presence in the next Parliament.

However, I honestly cannot see how the Party will make the breakthough in the next general election without significant support from our ethnic minority citizens. And we are unlikely to get that support until we are seen as a Party that is inclusive at every level. That is why it is important that we hear what the leadership candidates have to say on this subject. We need to know what practical steps they plan to take to ensure our Parliamentary groups in the Commons and the Lords are more representative of the country and our membership. We need to know what policy initiatives they have in mind to create a society where all citizens regardless of ethnic background are as one when it comes to feeling and thinking “British”

This is particularly important as the many inner city areas where we hope to win council and parlimentary seats have very significant ethnic minority populations.

Former Chair of the Gender Balance Task Force Baroness (Angie) Harris has leant her support to the campaign, commenting:

All the candidates need to address this crucial question. It is imperative that women play their part in political policy and decision making. Our Party may have accepted this tacitly, but it is now time to ensure our new Leader addresses this question as a matter of urgency. The responses of the candidates for that Leadership position will be interesting!

Councillor representative on the Liberal Democrats’ Federal Executive Meral Ece has leant her support to the campaign:

Over the years we have grown in membership and represent inner city areas, both at local council, and parliament. Unfortunately we do not reflect our electorate.

As a female councillor, from an ethnic minority, (Turkish), I am acutely aware that the party is grossly underrepresented by women and BME representation, at every level.

Whoever is elected as the new leader, they must throw their weight behind this important initiative, and make this happen.

Meral has signed our petition which you can do by going here.

A new campaign to support women and ethnic minorities within the Liberal Democrats is being endorsed by Jo Swinson MP.

‘Reflecting Britain’ has been launched to coincide with the Liberal Democrat leadership contest, and seeks to make the Parliamentary Party more representative of 21st century Britain.

Jo has praised the campaign and urged the three leadership contenders to address the issue of under-representation of women and ethnic-minorities.

Commenting on the campaign launch, Jo said:

“The Liberal Democrats’ Gender Balance Task Force (GBTF) has made significant progress, with 7 out of 21 new MPs elected in 2005 being women. With increased resources it could do so much more to achieve greater representation of women.

“Where we need change most urgently is in the representation of ethnic minorities. The Party must mirror the success of the GBTF and give a genuine voice to ethnic minorities in Parliament.

“I would urge the three leadership candidates to sign up to this campaign and address the issue of under-representation of women and ethnic minorities.

“Drawing on a wider pool of talent will strengthen our party at all levels.”

A group of Liberal Democrats have launched the Reflecting Britain campaign to coincide with the party’s leadership contest.

The campaign, which seeks to raise the importance of making the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party more representative of 21st century Britain, has been set up by the Chair and Vice Chairs of the party’s Gender Balance Task Force Sandra Gidley MP, Jo Swinson MP and Candy Piercy, as well as the Chair of the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats Fiyaz Mughal.

The three leadership contenders are being asked to sign a statement of support for the party’s Gender Balance Task Force and Ethnic Minority Election Task Force and are being set 5 questions to answer on how they propose to make the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party more diverse and reflective of wider society. The answers given to the questions will be published on the campaign’s website.

Commenting on the launch, campaign spokeswoman Candy Piercy said:

“The Gender Balance Task Force has made great strides in encouraging more successful women candidates for the Liberal Democrats; 7 out of 21 new MPs elected in 2005 were women. But we have constantly struggled with severely limited resources.

“The party and its new leader cannot afford to be complacent about this issue. The party has repeatedly supported proactive measures such as training and mentoring in favour of positive discrimination measures such as all-women shortlists, but such initiatives come at a price. We believe it is high time the party provides the Gender Balance Task Force with the resources it needs to ensure it can make real progress in time for the next general election.”

Fiyaz Mughal added:

“We welcome the fact that in the last couple of years the Liberal Democrats have successfully elected an Asian MEP - Saj Karim - and MP - Parmjit Gill. Unfortunately however, Parmjit lost his seat in the general election and once again the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons is 100% white.

“If the Liberal Democrats are to get a Black or Minority Ethnic MP elected at the next general election, we must begin finding and supporting suitable candidates now. For a couple of years now the party has been committed to establishing an Ethnic Minority Election Task Force on similar lines to the one for Gender Balance; we believe that one of the first acts of the new leader should be to ensure that it is established with the political support and resources it needs to be effective.”

The campaign is also asking party members to sign a petition which will be presented to the new party leader at the Spring Conference in Harrogate.