Tories planning announcement on forced marriages
Yesterday evening I attended a talk at the House of Commons organised by the Conservatives Women’s Muslim Group with vice-president Sayeeda Warsi and Jasvinder Sanghera (of women’s group Karma Nirvana) speaking. It was a good event, primarily focused on forced marriages and what to do about them. [thanks to Ellee Seymour for the tip].
Sayeeda swore me not to blog about it so I shall reluctantly stick to my promise. But I will say that the Conservatives are finally making some moves on the issue and some announcements will be made this Friday. She also said that while Labour has made good progress on minority women issues in the past, they have dragged their feet over the last few years. I agree. Notice how Blair made a rash of announcements about supporting the FM bill and raising the age for women to be allowed to sponsor spouses from abroad in the last months of his reign.
Not that the Conservatives made much noise about these issues in the past but at least they are catching up. It is even better that Asian politicians themselves are raising and pushing this issue. Let’s see what Friday brings.
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Filed in: Culture, Party politics
Sunny, I’m delighted you went, disappointed I couldn’t make it due to family commitments. Yes, I also wonder what will happen on Friday.
interesting – let’s see what comes out of it eh? Why did Sayeeda make you promise not to blog about it? wasn’t it a publicly accessible talk?
Yep, interesting indeed.
I feel that Ann Cryer MP has been the most vocal and supportive on this issue. She has had abuse hurled at her and has been called racist but has stuck to her guns. I have not heard any conservative come out and speak on this issue forcefully. I expected Asian MPs like Warsi to tackle these issues head on. But I think the party was so low down in the polls and it must have been difficult to come out and say something which might upset the community”leaders”. It takes courage to take a stand and voice your opposition to practices such as these. And I feel that the female Muslim members of the parliment have just not done that.
There are no female muslim members of parliament yet.
Sorry to be a pedant but Warsi isn’t an MP, she’s a party member and Vice Chair for Cities.
OOOps, I stand corrected.Thank you
Discussion on Voxpolitics on 18doughtystreet.com at 10pm.
Link: http://www.18doughtystreet.com/talk_tv
Pity Sunny is not on it. Not quite as well informed as could be, but – as you say – it is a start.
Matt
btw Iain Dale has blogged it:
http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2007/05/forced-marriage-highlighted-at-tory.html
thanks for that Matt… Elle well they’ve sent one announcement to me already. Shall post it tomorrow.
Sunny, I’ve had no annoucement, but have read the story in The Times and shall also write up on it.
I met Clive Davies the other night from the Spectator blog and he really raved about your site and mentioned you by name, btw.
Now we have the announcement from the Conservatives. I’m not too enthused by their proposals, but it’s a start. Let’s see what the consultation process brings.