My Lords, A01 failed (C: 7, NC: 26, P: 5). We now proceed to final division.

Ethnic-Minority (Shortlists) Bill

A

Bill

To

Legalize ethnic minority shortlists for parliamentary candidate selections; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Amendment

(1) Amend section 104(7) of the Equality Act 2010 to add—

“(v) race;”

2 Short title, commencement, and effect

(1) This Act may be cited as the Ethnic-Minority (Shortlists) Act 2022.

(2) This Act extends to the same areas as Section 104 of the Equality Act 2010.

(3) This Act comes into effect immediately after Royal Assent.

This bill was written and submitted by the Rt Hon. Viscount Houston PC KBE KT CT OM, on behalf of His Majesty’s 32nd Government.

This bill amends the Equality Act 2010, last amended here

Opening Speech:

Speaker,

During previous debates on shortlists, people would often invoke the spirit of Martin Luther King to argue that political equality must be blind to protected characteristics. In reality, the bill I bring forward today enhances the legacy of what MLK actually advocated for. To quote him, ethnic minorities facing a history of systemic racism needed “special, compensatory measures”. To treat everyone blindly ignores the fact that the legacy of differing treatment exists to this day. In order to ameliorate these inequalities, political parties should be allowed to take steps to ensure political representation moves towards groups historically disenfranchised.

This idea is increasingly embraced by the mainstream. The Church of England commissioned a study that concluded “racial sin” could best be ameliorated through this shortlist system.. Major political parties supported the move as far back as 2009. It is now time to take action. Allowing for targeted representation of marginalized groups is the best way to move forward into an anti-racist world.

This vote will end on the 28th November at 10pm GMT.