ABSTRACT

There has been much detailed research and considerabale debate about the role of black politicians at local authority level. However, there has been little systematic scrutiny of the work of black and Asian1 Members of Parliament. Prior to the general election of 1987, when four black candidates were elected to Parliament, there were, unsurprisingly, arguments supporting the urgent need for the presence of black politicians in mainstream politics. After the election of two additional Asian MPs in 1992 there was further speculation about what role they would play and what influence they would have at Westminister. The debate will only intensify with the election of nine (all Labour) in 1997. It seems appropriate, therefore, that after a decade of having a small group of black and Asian Members of Parliament, we should now begin to examine in more detail the part they play and the effect they have had, or appear to be having, on British politics at the centre.