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Vaughan Gething: politics needs more black and Asian people Vaughan Gething: politics needs more black and Asian people
(35 minutes later)
The first black minister in any of the devolved UK administrations has called for all political parties to do more to encourage people from ethnic minorities to be involved in politics.The first black minister in any of the devolved UK administrations has called for all political parties to do more to encourage people from ethnic minorities to be involved in politics.
Vaughan Gething, who begins his first full week as a minister in the Labour-led Welsh government today, said there was a "really big problem" around the number of black and Asian people in positions of power and influence. Vaughan Gething, who began his first full week as a minister in the Labour-led Welsh government on Monday, said there was a "really big problem" around the number of black and Asian people in positions of power and influence.
Gething said: "I think every party needs to look at itself to think about what it is doing to ensure its candidates best represent the communities it aspires to represent. "I think every party needs to look at itself to think about what it is doing to ensure its candidates best represent the communities it aspires to represent," he said.
"When you look at black and Asian groups' representation there is still a really big problem. Parties can't just shrug their shoulders and say: 'It isn't our fault, it isn't our problem – we just don't have people coming forward.' I think there are plenty of people who would be interested if parties were more proactive." "When you look at black and Asian groups' representation there is still a really big problem. Parties can't just shrug their shoulders and say: 'It isn't our fault, it isn't our problem – we just don't have people coming forward'. I think there are plenty of people who would be interested if parties were more pro-active."
Gething said it was important that parties did not try to attract black people simply for "window-dressing" and gave them unwinnable seats to fight. "We've made progress here in Wales, there's more for us and for other devolved nations and for parliament to do." Gething said it was important that parties did not try to attract black people simply for "window-dressing" and gave them unwinnable seats to fight. "We've made progress here in Wales, [but] there's more for us and for other devolved nations and for parliament to do."
Zambian-born Gething is used to acting as a pathfinder. He was the first black president of NUS Wales and the first black president of the TUC in Wales. Zambian-born Gething is used to acting as a trailblazer. He was the first black president of the National Union of Students Wales and the first black president of the Trades Union Congress in Wales.
"I've never consciously thought I want to be the first black this, that or the other," he said. "I've been very focused on what I want to do." "I've never consciously thought, I want to be the first black this, that or the other," he said. "I've been very focused on what I want to do."
He accepts that his progress will be closely monitored by those who want him to do well – and others who wish him ill. "I hope that, firstly I'll do a good job, I'll show that I'm worth my place. But whether you like it or not you're a role model. Anyone in public life is a role model and when you're as obvious and easy to pick out as I am there's extra tension. You have to remember that for all those that want you to do well and all the good will there, there are plenty of people that want you to fail." He said he accepted that his progress would be closely monitored by those who wanted him to do well – and others who wished him ill. "I hope that, firstly, I'll do a good job, I'll show that I'm worth my place. But whether you like it or not, you're a role model. Anyone in public life is a role model and when you're as obvious and easy to pick out as I am there's extra tension. You have to remember that for all those that want you to do well and all the good will there, there are plenty of people that want you to fail."
But he is inspired by the likes of an elderly couple whose doorstep he knocked on recently. "The woman was white, he [was] black. They told me how her family disowned her when they were courting for a time because she was seeing a black guy. The man said: 'I know who you are, I've watched what you're doing, we're really proud of you. Don't let us down.' That's some of the responsibility you have whether you want it or not, if you try to deny that's there, I do myself and the people I represent a disservice." But he said he was inspired by the likes of an older couple whose doorstep he knocked on recently. "The woman was white, he [was] black. They told me how her family disowned her when they were courting for a time because she was seeing a black guy. The man said: 'I know who you are, I've watched what you're doing, we're really proud of you. Don't let us down.' That's some of the responsibility you have whether you want it or not. If you try to deny that's there, I do myself and the people I represent a disservice."
There are just two non-white faces each in the Welsh assembly and Scottish parliament – and only one in the Northern Ireland assembly and campaigners have long called for action to be taken to redress the balance.There are just two non-white faces each in the Welsh assembly and Scottish parliament – and only one in the Northern Ireland assembly and campaigners have long called for action to be taken to redress the balance.
Gething has been appointed deputy minister for tackling poverty and last week was in Butetown, one of the most deprived areas of Cardiff, to help launch a key Welsh government initiative aimed at creating jobs and training places for those trapped in jobless households – a major problem in poorer parts of the Welsh capital and many of the former mining communities in the valleys.Gething has been appointed deputy minister for tackling poverty and last week was in Butetown, one of the most deprived areas of Cardiff, to help launch a key Welsh government initiative aimed at creating jobs and training places for those trapped in jobless households – a major problem in poorer parts of the Welsh capital and many of the former mining communities in the valleys.
As well as being the first black minister, Gething is seen as part of a new generation of younger politicians who will regenerate the Welsh assembly, which is sometimes criticised for being staid and lacking dynamism.As well as being the first black minister, Gething is seen as part of a new generation of younger politicians who will regenerate the Welsh assembly, which is sometimes criticised for being staid and lacking dynamism.
He declines to look too far ahead when asked if he aspires to be the first black leader of the Welsh government. He declined to look too far ahead when asked if he aspired to be the first black leader of the Welsh government.
"I need to do this job well, I need to demonstrate it was worth appointing me to the post, that I am here on merit. It's not about window-dressing, it's about someone who can do the job well. If I can do that in this job, we'll wait and see what the future holds.""I need to do this job well, I need to demonstrate it was worth appointing me to the post, that I am here on merit. It's not about window-dressing, it's about someone who can do the job well. If I can do that in this job, we'll wait and see what the future holds."