Conservatives promise a 20 per cent increase in jobs, apprenticeships for the BAME communities. Mr Cameron announced a new set of ambitions for the next five years, aimed at delivering jobs, apprenticeships, homes and new opportunities for people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
As the campaign enters the crucial final phase, Conservatives unveiled new set of promises to woo the crucial support of Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled his 2020 Vision aiming to spread economic prosperity right across Britain especially among the BAMEs. The prime minister said the first black or Asian prime minister will be a Conservative.
The prime minister in his speech at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, said: ‘We’re the party of the first female Prime Minister. The party of the first Jewish Prime Minister. And I know that, one day, we’re going to be the party of the first black or Asian Prime Minister.
“I want this to be an opportunity country, where no matter who you are or where you’re from; whether you’re black, white, Asian or mixed race; whether you’re from the inner city He also outlined plans to increase the number of ethnic minority Tory MPs. Of 306 Conservative MPs elected in 2010, 11 were black or Asian. Labour had 16 ethnic minority MPs elected in 2010, while the Lib Dems had none.
In the 2010 election, the Conservative Party only won 16% of the ethnic minority vote, which has historically favoured Labour. In 2015, it is fielding 56 candidates from black and Asian communities. Labour is fielding 52 ethnic minority candidates.
Mr Cameron also pledged to boost minority ethnic jobs, university places and police recruits by 2020. He announced a new set of ambitions for the next five years, aimed at delivering jobs, apprenticeships, homes and new opportunities for people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.
“Our mission is to make sure that as our economy recovers, people from every community share in that prosperity – that we spread it far and wide. Because after all, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, we all want the same thing – a good job, a great education, the chance to get on, the chance to make it. Now when it comes to our key commitments to the British people for the next five years, there are many things that will help people in this hall,” he added .
“ Tax cuts for millions – with everyone earning less than £12,500 taken out of income tax altogether. A new law so we have a tax-free Minimum Wage. The right to buy for Housing Association tenants so more people can own their own home. Thirty hours of free childcare for parents of three and four year olds. A fully-funded NHS that is there for you seven days a week.”
“But there are more specific things we can do to make sure we spread opportunity to every community. So today I’m setting us some new ambitions for the next 5 years, specifically for people from black and minority ethnic communities. I call it my 2020 vision: Ambitious but realistic aspirations to help people from all our communities really thrive.”
Under the Conservatives in the last Parliament, BME employment increased by over 20%; more than 200,000 good-quality apprenticeships were started by young people from BME backgrounds and record numbers of young Black, Asian and mixed race students achieved good GCSEs and went on to study at university.
By 2020, Conservatives would deliver:
A 20% increase in the number of BME workers in employment, meaning an extra 660,000 people in work
A 20% increase in the proportion of apprenticeships undertaken by BME – with 300,000 new BME apprenticeships started by 2020
A 20% increase in the number of BME students going to university – equivalent to over 18,000 more a year
20,000 Start-Up Loans for BME entrepreneurs
20% of new police officer recruits to be from a minority ethnic background, and in the armed forces at least 10 per cent – and on the way to 20 per cent.
20% of new Conservative Parliamentary Candidates in retirement seats to be from a BME background