TMP Online

Nigeria held state gubernatorial elections over the weekend, ahead of the country’s general election later this week. The BBC is reporting that the ruling People’s Democratic Party has won 26 of the 32 state races declared so far and the Supreme Court has ruled that the Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, should be allowed to contest Saturday’s presidential elections. The Vice President is widely reported to have fallen out with the sitting President Olusegun Obasanjo (pictured) by seeking to block moves to allow the President to stand for a third term. The Independent National Election Commission had sought to prevent the Vice President standing amid corruption allegations which he says were politically motivated. Chatham House have produced a useful overview of the Nigerian Presidential race – click here for the link. Further news in relation to Nigerian general election will be posted here later this week.

The impetus to set up this website stemmed from the fact that there was no space – magazine, journal, online discussion group - for those on the progressive left and from diverse backgrounds, to come together and talk about politics from the multicultural progressive perspective.

Usually the media focuses on Britain’s ethnic minorities when an event occurs which they think is of particular relevance to one of our many rich and diverse communities. This was seen with the recent attention given to the African Caribbean communities in the wake of the teenage shootings in London. Our South Asian communities were subject to the same scrutiny during police terror raids in Birmingham and East London.

But those of us who are part of those communities have a lot more to offer. Wouldn’t it have been interesting to hear from those who come from India and Pakistan, the newest members of the nuclear club, during the whole Trident renewal debate? The liberal press has anxiously pondered whether an equivalent of the U.S Christian Right is emerging in the U.K – what do Britain’s African Caribbean communities think about this, given their churches are amongst the fastest growing in the Britain today? What about faith schools? The government says it cannot deny our communities religious schools when there are so many Christian ones already in existence. The writer and broadcaster, Will Hutton, questions the sustainability of the Chinese economy given the lack of reform and alleged rampant corruption in that country – do British Chinese people, who have relatives on the ground in China, agree?

It is hoped that this site will help answer those and many other questions. We will primarily cover the British political scene, but we will be unapologetically international in our coverage too.

Finally, for the avoidance of doubt, we welcome contributions from any one - whatever your background. The only criteria we apply is that your post should be of interest to the multicultural progressive.

Chuka Umunna
Editor, TMP