Sir Menzies Campbell's resignation has presented the Lib Dems with a massive opportunity to get back on track.
Nick Clegg and Chris Huhne are the favourites to become the Liberal Democrats' third leader in two years but whoever takes the helm at the party will immediately be expected to grab more attention from the electorate and the media then Ming ever could.
At the centre of any plans to resurrect the party should be a renewed commitment to bag ethnic voters and get more Black and Asian MPs in parliament.
Before the last general election I met several senior politicians in the Lib Dems who were attempting to lure Asian voters away from Labour.
This included, the party's then leader Charles Kennedy and mayoral candidate Simon Hughes.
At the time I was editor of a newspaper serving the British Asian community and both asked me about my thoughts on how the party was perceived by Asians.
I told them that I felt that second and third generation British Asians, were, in general, liberal in their views and the war on Iraq had left many seeking an alternative to Labour.
They spoke passionately about taking on the issues that mattered to ethnic minority groups and central to this would also be a plan to put up more BME candidates in future elections.
With the Tories spewing out the usual anti-immigration rhetoric at the time, it seemed the stage was set for the Lib Dems to make massive gains, bolstered by a boost in ethnic voters.
When Sarah Teather won the Brent East by-election in 2003 it showed that the Lib Dems could capitalise on the anti-war sentiments and dismay being felt over the Labour party's general shift to the right under Tony Blair.
They looked set to reach - and keep hold of - a whole new generation of voters.
But in reality, they blew it and the party's popularity has spiralled downwards since 2005.
Their plight has been worsened by the resurgent Tories who have taken the initiative on issues where the Lib Dems once held sway, such as the green agenda.
And while the Lib Dems are no strangers to campaigning on environmental issues they could really appeal to the electorate in the next election by championing human rights.
In the Muslim community for example, feelings run high over issues such as anti-terror legislation, the 'nanny state' and Guantanomo Bay, and the Lib Dems could present solid counter-arguments on such matters.
But crucial to all of this should be a solid plan to get more non-white politicians involved with the party.
The party talk a good game when it comes to the issue of ethnic representation but influential Lib Dem figures, such as Lord Navnit Dholakia and prospective mayoral candidate Fiyaz Mughal are said to be unhappy at the woeful lack of progress in this vital area and will push to make it a priority for the new leader.
Nasser Butt, a long-standing campaigner for the Lib Dems gave a damning indictment of the problem at the party's recent conference.
"We have done nothing on the ground to change anything in order to get any BME candidates selected to any parliamentary seat.
"There is no willpower, there is no will, there's no commitment to actually do things properly once we have made these promises.'"
And its not just Black and Asian politicians they should be trying to bring into the fold.
In some constituencies, particularly in London, support from emerging groups such as the Somalian or Polish communities could prove to be crucial in winning key seats at the next election.
To do this, Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems need to recruit talented individuals from these groups, in addition to Black and Asian communities, and groom them into the political stars of the future.
Theoretically the Lib Dems could have the edge on this over the Tories - where David Cameron's priority candidates have been constantly snubbed by many of the party's local associations.
Whether it be Clegg or Huhne, at the top of the new Lib Dem leader's list should be a commitment to deliver on their promises to get more ethnic candidates into parliament and devise a strategy to woo ethnic voters like never before.
If they get that right, then the Lib Dems will go a long way to putting all the back-stabbing and instability of the past two years behind them.
Thanks for this article Amar and a thoughtful and well researched piece. I can confirm as I have publicly stated before that any mainstream Party that does not reflect the wider community is doomed to fail. As a Prospective Mayoral Candidate for the Liberal Democrats for London, I have also been publicly vocal on this and it is a red line issue.
I can tell you that I will be informing, engaging with and holding to account the new leader, whoever he or she is and there will be no let up in ensuring that Lib Dem Parliamentarians are made up of a mix of communities from Turkish speaking right the way through to Eastern European, Asian and African Caribbean groups.
I have been in the Party nearly 10 years and progress has been painfully slow. It is however, up to those of us who really want to see a change, to facilitate those wheels so that we move in the right direction.
Posted by: Fiyaz Mughal | 17/10/2007 at 12:57 PM
The LibDems are very pro-EU. Many British Asian businesspeople are badly affected by the ridiculous amount of bureaucracy and the effort to be spent in complying with unnecessary legislation.
We are also not European. The British system is not perfect, but it is renowned throughout the world for being relatively fair and freedom loving. Sarah Ludford MEP has rightly drawn attention to the dangers of totalitarian measures like fingerprint databases.
ID cards also seem to have links with the type of European population databases being planned. The Liberal Democrats should be leading a public outcry against this type of thing.
Posted by: Mirza | 18/10/2007 at 02:08 PM
It's not only the Muslim community that are concerned about the war, Guantanamo, anti-terror legislation, many others are too, and those others have stopped voting Labour neither do they vote Tory because they would be just as bad if not worse.There is a growing discontent with the EU and the growing Eurosuper state. We need a party in Britian that puts Human Rights, poverty reduction, decent living wages, defend public housing, defend and reinvigorate our fishing and agricultural industries (even if it means getting out of the EU) no to identity cards, the end to privatisation, re-nationalisation of transport, and Real Democracy not corporate democracy at the top of their agenda. Have the Lib Dems got the guts? This is what the majority of us want. That's why most of us don't even vote because no Party represents our views.
Posted by: Francesca | 18/10/2007 at 02:55 PM
There is a large number of people who are fed up with Labour and Tory but no party represents our views. That is, no to identiy cards, re-nationalise our transport, end privatisation, decent living wages, reinvigorate our fishing and agriculture, (even if it means leaving the EU), standing up to the EU and its Euro super state agenda, supporting human rights, against Guantanamo bay, against war, repeal of anti-terror/ anti civil liberties legislation. Have the Lib Dems got the guts?
Posted by: Francesca | 18/10/2007 at 03:00 PM
"But crucial to all of this should be a solid plan to get more non-white politicians involved with the party. "
This is the problem with political correctness; let's make the parties who should govern this country into an ethnic rainbow! Yipee, let's get Somalians, Poles and even perhaps some Aborigines in there! Then we can all hold hands and sing John Lennon songs in Parliament.
My view is that people should not be entitled to play a role in the governance on the country on the basis of colour and only the most intelligent, the most 'just' and most able should be given this task. Clearly, if you are 'just' then you will uphold the rights of minorities regardless of your own origins.
"I can confirm as I have publicly stated before that any mainstream Party that does not reflect the wider community is doomed to fail."
The reverse is true too, a party reflecting all the minorities is likely to fail too, as each argues with the other to drive forward their own agenda instead of governing the country. Seriously chaps, let's grow up a bit and take a broader view of things instead of worrying about Turkish speakers joining the party.
"We need a party in Britian that puts … end to privatisation, re-nationalisation of transport, and Real Democracy not corporate democracy"
Are you a Communist?
Posted by: Anon | 19/10/2007 at 12:18 PM
"Anon" said: " The reverse is true too, a party reflecting all the minorities is likely to fail too, as each argues with the other to drive forward their own agenda instead of governing the country"
What planet are you on?
So British born ethnic minorities are not capable of becoming part of 'Real Democracy'? Hundreds of ethnic minorities are already elected to local councils up and down the country, and playing a role in local democracy. This pluralism at local government level needs to be reflected at Parliamentary level. 100 years ago, people like you were predicting doom and gloom when women were allowed to vote, and to stand for local councils (I'm assuming you are a bloke?)
I support Amar Singh's analysis on the need for the future Lib Dem Leader to prioritise this work.
As chair of the Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats, I will be working with the party's leadership to ensure that our values and policies, to defend civil liberties, campaign for social justice, and the environment, resonate with the UK's diverse communities.
Posted by: Meral Ece | 21/10/2007 at 12:46 PM
Amar has highlihghted an issue that many of us in the Liberal Democrats Party agree with. The Liberal Democrats could be the Party of natural choice for those who put equality and fairness at the top of their social agenda.
In the 1997 general election the Liberal Democrats was the Party that fielded the most number of ethic minority candidates. I was one of that number. That was at a time when Liberal Democrats were very much a third Party in the making
Many of us expected that when the Party's fortunes impoved in 2001 there would be a couple of ethnic minority in seriously winnable seats. But alas that proved to be a forlorn hope. So we waited for 2005. In the interim period Lord Dolakia set up the Racial Equality Advisory Group, which I had the privilege of chairing.
The group produced a well researched report which the eParty's Federal Executive adopted and the then Party Charles Kennedy launched in the House of Commons
Once again the expectations of the ethnic minority membership were raised and there was anticipation that the 2005 General elecction would field ethnic minority candidates in winnable seats
Alas this did not happen
Now as he head for the next general election we once again wait for the Party to take radical action to ensure the Party selects ethnic minority candidates in winnable seats. To date there has been much promise but little action from th eleadership.
This despite promises from Ming Campbell during the last leadership hustings that tackling this issue would be a priority for him (It just so happens that Chris Huhne also gave similar undertakings at the same meeting).
As chair of the Ethnic Minority Election Task Force I will again be asking the leadership contenders what they intend to do to put a speedy end to the ethnic deficit in the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary groups
Messages to the leadership contenders from free thinkers like Amar about the political collateral of doing whatever is necessary to bring in ethnic minority parliamentarians into the fold can only be good for our cause.
I know Liberal Democrats believe what they preach. What I dont understand is why they fear taking the bold step necessary to make it happen.
Posted by: Rabi Martins | 21/10/2007 at 07:46 PM
Meral, Meral Meral,
I though my point was clear, but obviously not. I do not have issues with ethnic minorities joining politics. However, i do have an issue with a positive discrimination campaign to get people involved in politics just because they speak Turkish, rather than on the basis of their ability to do the job.
I don’t know what your point is. Do you? Does anyone? You've written 'what planet are you on'. Nice, really well though out rebuttal. All this does is reinforce my argument that getting people, involved in politics on the basis of their ethnicity, is not going to give rise to the type of intelligent debate that's needed to govern a country.
My only advice to you Meral, is if people are going to achieve something, let them achieve it on the basis of their intelligence, personality and sheer will power, not on the basis of them playing the race-card.
I know you're with me on this Meral.
Posted by: Indian Lawyer | 22/10/2007 at 11:11 AM
Francesca says "that's why most of us don't vote". Actually, at the last General Election, a substantial majority of people DID vote, as turnout was well over 50%, so in not-voting, Francesca is in a distinct minority, rather than representing "most of us" as she claims in her post.
Posted by: Matthew | 28/10/2007 at 03:53 PM
Oh Lord!
This blog has been turned into some kind of soap box for Lib Dem 'freethinkers' (or hippies as I like to call them).
Rabi instead of worrying about an 'ethnic deficit' why don’t we worry about the crime, street gangs, ASBO, teenage pregnancy surplus. In all seriousness, I appreciate the work you're doing. But when I'm walking down a dark street, I'm more interested in how many Policeman are on the beat, how good the street lighting is etc.
I may be wrong but when I'm about to be robbed by a gang of teenage hoodlums, I'm hoping that there's a Policeman nearby to save the day, rather than a Turkish-speaking Parliamentarian.
If you want to win votes, beat the Law and Order drum, not the Ethnic Minority bongo.
Posted by: Indian Lawyer | 30/10/2007 at 02:22 PM
'Indian lawyer' - sorry haven't been paying attention to this blog..
My hippy days are long over, and I hung up my poncho some years ago. Can't see myself beating any ethnic minority 'bongo' (you are charming!)
"My only advice to you Meral, is if people are going to achieve something, let them achieve it on the basis of their intelligence, personality and sheer will power, not on the basis of them playing the race-card"
We're all agreed!- we don't expect to be elected just because we're Turkish, or Indian for that matter. We expect that political parties just as the Police are doing, make efforts to encourage, recruit, train and support people from all backgrounds.
In fact I would go further, BME's seeking selection for any political position, in my experience, have to work even harder, show greater determination and will power to succeed.
No-one is suggesting we should play the race card. Your argument is one dimensional, and I'm afraid completely misses the point.
Posted by: Meral Ece | 08/11/2007 at 10:33 PM