New research from the Universities of Essex and Manchester on how ethnic minorities are engaging as voters and how they are represented within the British political system. There will be three short research presentations followed by a panel discussion chaired by Tom Clark, Editor of Prospect magazine, on the implications for the political parties, for our elected officials, for those encouraging engagement in democracy and voter registration, and for society as a whole.

Agenda –

10am-10.30am Coffee

10.30am-11am Presentation: Dr Nicole Martin (University of Essex/University of Manchester) - Ethnic Minority Voters in 2015: A Breakthrough for the Conservative Party?

11am-11.30am Presentation: Dr Maria Sobolewska (University of Manchester) – Which ethnic minority candidates represent the views of ethnic minority constituents, and why?

11.30am-12 noon Presentation: Dr Rebecca McKee (University College London) - How MPs respond to their ethnic minority constituents. Substantive Representation of Ethnic Minorities in the UK Parliament

12 noon Coffee

12.15pm Panel discussion, chaired by Tom Clark, Editor of Prospect Magazine - panellists will include:

Omar Khan, Director of Runnymede, UK's leading independent race equality think tank

Binita Mehta-Parmar, Director of Modern Britain

Shahrar Ali, former Deputy Leader of the Green Party

Zrinka Bralo, Chief Executive, Migrants Organise

1.15pm end