BAME Co-operators 2022 Voting Portal

BAME Co-operators Council Voting Portal 2022

Voting closes at Midnight on Wednesday 23 November.

You can find the statements from each of the candidates below.

Voting is by single transferable vote. There are 12 places up for election. Please rank the candidates in order of preference.

If you have any questions about the voting process or need help with filling out your ballot paper, please contact Assistant General Secretary Emma Foody at e.foody@party.coop.

David Agbley

Titus Ajayi

Region/Nation: East Midlands

Why I should be elected to the BAME Council:

I am the chair of the West Northamptonshire branch and vice chair of the Society Party Council (Central England, Eastern and Southern) Cooperative Party and previously been vice-Chair and Treasurer respectively. I was a delegate to last conference at Leeds. I am co-chair of the Northampton North CLP, a Councillor and vice-chair of the Kingsthorpe Parish Council.

I was a CLP BAME Coordinator and member of the East Midland Regional BAME group during which I set up one of the first CLP BAME Forums in the region – the forum is a platform for activists to air their views and make a difference

As a member of the Unite the Union, I was Equality Rep., member of East Midland Regional BAEM Committee and a delegate to both Unite National Equalities Conference and TUC Black Workers Conference. I have had opportunities to speak on motions at Unite Equalities Conference and TUC Black Workers Conference.

I have always been at the forefront of agitation for positioning of BAME Co-operator at the heart of the Party.

Two years ago, I was elected as a member of the National BAME Co-operators’ Council. However, most of our activities were hindered by the pandemic, and I am now seeking for re-election so that I can continue to ensure that the voices of the BAME co-operators are heard and that we continue to play active party in the progress and development of the Party. I will work in conjunction with other council members to make sure that the Party policies and activities continue to reflect the diversity of the membership.

If elected, I will be working with other networks to ensure that our Party remains a conducive place for all irrespective of their ethnicity, beliefs (and no belief), gender, age, disability, sexuality etc.

Thank you.

Olaide Akinleye

Ahmed Ali-Asghar

Sunny Brar

Evelyne Godfrey

Region/Nation: South East

Why I should be elected to the BAME Council:

I’d like to join the BAME Council in order to help organise meetings and events that will enable our BAME Network members to have their voices heard in the Co-operative Party.

I have lived experience of racism. I’m of Asian descent on my mother’s side and Irish descent on my father’s side. I joined the Labour Party in Bradford in late 2001, after witnessing first-hand the rioting in the city centre earlier that year. The experience of Asian immigrants in West Yorkshire, and in other parts of Britain, as well as the USA and Canada, including my own mother and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, has defined my experience as a British citizen.

Since 2018, I've been active in my role as an EC officer and Equality rep for BAME members in the Archaeologists Branch of the Trade Union Prospect. I’m a professional archaeologist and lecturer with a research and teaching interest in decolonisation. I participate in the national Prospect BAME Network, and attend the TUC Black Workers conferences. Since 2021, I've chaired the Prospect Trade Union Heritage Industry’s Anti-racism Taskforce.

I joined the Co-operative Party in 2012, and have been an active member ever since, for example attending annual conference most years as a delegate, and writing policy submissions on Immigration and Brexit, and on Higher & Further Education. I’m currently working on a policy paper on ‘Anti-racism and reform of the Equality Act’. I live in rural Oxfordshire, near to Swindon and the Gloucestershire border. I’m very active in the wider co-operative movement: I’m an elected director of the Midcounties Co-operative Society, I run a local heritage co-operative, and I’m also a registered director of Oxford City of Sanctuary, a co-operative Community Benefit Society dedicated to empowering refugees and migrants through education, employment, and access to affordable housing.

Cllr Celia Hibbert

Rizwan Jalil

Kuljit Kaur

Region/Nation: South East

Why I should be elected to the BAME Council:

I would like to be elected to the BAME council so that I can make a real difference for the next generation. In politics, BAMEs are far too frequently underrepresented, thus my goal is to change that. Race and ethnicity still seem to play a role in political attitudes. Being BAME myself, I believe it is important that inclusive policies are implemented to help achieve equality.

I was previously voted to serve as a student representative for my university, which required me to interact and listen to students from various backgrounds in order to reflect their academic interests. I believe that this experience will encourage me to understand issues affecting my local community and work together to tackle them.

I agree that key sectors such as transport should be returned to democratic public ownership. The British railways have been reduced to a commodity for businesses to profit from – arguably the worst in Europe. With public ownership we can reinvest money in enhancing services as opposed to lining pockets of the bourgeoise.

I am willing to accept the role as a BAME councillor without gender, social, racial or religious discrimination.

Abe Khayer

Thabiso Mabena

Mukesh Mulhotra

Kodwo Mensah Ababio Grey-Mills

Region/Nation: South East of England

Why I should be elected to the BAME Council:

My interests lie in the development of the marginalised and as well as those with much less represented in the process of representation. As a nation I think even when the opportunities are open, we do not get enough response from the right candidature to be involved in the decision making and listening process in relation their electorates voicing their concerns as in relation to the governance of our society as a whole. This can be done if a few dedicated Indvidual's are galvanised to seek more of their kind winning positions via elections.

We should by now have recognised that we thrive even better when with leadership. The expectations of the electorate should be ecstatic if they get the right person, who can secure the necessary development of the area, district in which they belong to. Creating opportunities for a better thriving and fulfilling future for those who shall come to carry on; is the least they can ask for. I am in no doubt that the willingness to bring profound changes to our economy, it behoves on each and every one of us to play a role. In whichever position it might be.

Hence, I look forward for such an opportunity in the near future

Brahma Mohanty

Region/Nation: London

Why I should be elected to the BAME Council:

I am honoured to put myself forward for the Co-operative Party BAME Council. I have been a longstanding member of both the Labour and Co-operative Parties, having served as the BAME and Disabilities Officer for my CLP, as well as the Chair of my local Co-operative Party branch for the past couple of years. I also sit on the Executive Committee for both GMB Race and GMB Ability, and have previously stood as a candidate in both Council and General Elections.

Promoting diversity and representation are both issues close to my heart, and I have sought to do this at local party level by increasing engagement with and participation from BAME and under-represented groups. I have also spearheaded initiatives to raise awareness of the challenges facing BAME individuals be it through tackling racism and discrimination, to addressing how COVID-19 disproportionately affected black and asian communities. At its core, the Co-operative movement has always embraced diversity and multiculturalism, as well as fairness and equality for all. Indeed, the Co-operative Party is my natural home: an environment where I as someone who is both BAME and disabled can feel welcome and embraced, knowing that I can achieve my full potential. As a member of the BAME Council I want to ensure that the party continues to uphold those values. This is crucial at a time when the country faces crises economically, politically and socially, that we remind people that the Co-operative Party alongside our sister Labour Party, are the greatest vehicles for positive change in Britain. I would be honoured and humbled to be elected to the council, so that I can bring my extensive experiences as both a role-holder, candidate, and activist in both the Labour and Co-operative and Trade Union movements, to ensure we continue to uphold the values we hold dear and make the Co-operative Party a welcoming place for all.

Omolola Oyewusi

Region/Nation: South East

Why I should be elected to the BAME Council:

I’m putting myself forward for the above Committee & seeking for your support.

Yes, I was on the committee before not new to the networks, I have served as a member of the BAME & Women committee for two years & have made progress in advancing the work of the committee, amongst others. I want to be able to continue the work that I’m doing championing the voice of BAME, Women & Disabled members. I’m a voice of hope & fights for the rights of our members with no apologises. I’m an experienced activists always at the forefront of fighting for equalities for all.

I serve as a Labour councillor on Aylesford Parish Council in Kent. I’m also the secretary for Chatham & Aylesford CLP & a proud member of Maidstone & Mid Kent Cooperative party

A community activist, work-place convener for Unison, co vice chair for unison greater London black members. A passionate believer in ensuring a greater voice for members.

I will advocate for all members inclusion in key decision making, I will push for further accessible diversity training to make sure that we follow Cooperative values equality, diversity & inclusion policy to ensure that our party is truly the party for all

regardless of disabilities, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other aspect should never be a barrier to being an activist.

I think having someone who is bold enough to speak her mind & challenge unfair processes will be a positive thing for members. I’m asking that you give me a chance & the opportunity to serve you

Yours in Solidarity

Cllr Lady Lola

Moin Quadri

Nesar Rafiq

Gregory Roberts

Region/Nation: West Midlands

Why I should be elected to the BAME Council:

My name is Gregory John Roberts, I am seeking your support to represent you in next cohort of the BAME Cooperators Council.

Since the founding of the BAME Cooperators Network, I have had the privilege of fearlessly representing the interest of BAME Cooperators across the UK. Under my leadership, we made gains not just in visibility but the opportunity to cement and institutionalise the rights of Black, Asian and other Minoritzed ethnicities in the Cooperative Party.

We are at a critical juncture in the UK. Years of austerity devastated our communities. The damage was laid bare and further exacerbated by the Pandemic that had left so many BAME families mourning the loss of their loved ones. The pain lingers and the future is looking grim.

The COVID-19 Recommendations produced by BAME Cooperators, under my leadership in 2020 were the first to be completed by any political party in the UK. This has yet to be adopted by the Cooperative Party UK.

The push for empowerment and power-sharing is needed now as never before. Gains are easily eroded and tokenism has never served our long term interests.

I am putting myself forward to help to champion the needs of our communities and the interests of BAME Cooperators in the Cooperative Party across the country. Our search for long-lasting solutions and empowerment must take on new dynamism in this era.

I hold a PhD, and as a trained economist and business consultant, I continue to serve the cooperative community in a number of ways. I am a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cooperative College and currently serving on the International Working Group set up by Cooperatives UK.

I am confident that with your continued support, we will be able to achieve our goals cooperatively.

David White

Cecile Wright

Promoted by Joe Fortune on behalf of the Co-operative Party, both at Unit 13, 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ, United Kingdom.Co-operative Party Limited is a registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered no. 30027R