• I WAS puzzled about council leader Georgia Gould’s alleged statement according to which it will be the council’s and Camden Labour Party’s priority to actively promote black candidates for the 2022 council elections, (Labour to find and field more black candidates, July 29).

During the past year, several distinguished black comrades left Camden’s Labour Party because they no longer felt welcome and they did not feel that the party represented them.

Those who still remain seem uncomfortable with current Labour activities: at our last CLP meeting (Hampstead & Kilburn) I did not see a single black face.

I for one am uncomfortable with the sudden suggestion that the party should actively find black candidates. Why now? Why not until now?

Has the success of Liberal Democrat Nancy Jirira’s election to the council inspired the idea that black Labour candidates might secure more Labour seats on the council?

I would like to see more black faces in my CLP as well at the council. However, implying – as this sudden Labour enthusiasm for black candidates indicates – that Nancy Jirira’s victory was due to her colour is wrong.

Being an ex-councillor and being an NHS nurse, Nancy Jirira evidently had the edge over her rivals at the recent Fortune Green by-election.

Let’s make all black comrades feel welcome in the Labour Party, let’s get them back into the party and let’s have true diversity at all times.

DR AGNES KORY,
NW3