What being a black Tory voter means to me and why I won’t be shamed for it

My parents and grandparents voted Labour for all sorts of reasons. But those reasons don’t necessarily apply to me

This month’s 2019 general election saw the Conservatives win their biggest majority since Margaret Thatcher was in charge. It has now come to light that far-right and nationalist groups are urging their supporters to join the Conservative Party to strengthen Boris Johnson’s leadership.

Although the Tories have rejected any support from individuals seeking to join the party who do not share its stated aims, I still question the motives of fascist political organisations that encourage their members to join the Conservative Party. Is Britain First’s desire to join the party a reflection of how they perceive the Tory’s attitude towards far-right, racist and divisive politics? And is that perception accurate?

As a third-generation Windrush migrant and black Briton who voted for the Conservative Party, I do feel as though I’ve waded into the unknown. Reviewing a political party manifesto and making a choice – especially this one – doesn’t seem like something that’s meant for me.

Black people in Britain have traditionally voted for the Labour Party. Most of the black and Asian people that migrated from the Commonwealth arrived straight into industrial jobs that were heavily unionised, and they therefore voted for the only party that favoured unions.

Working-class values and attitudes to economic resources, cultural interests and education were part of the culture of the Windrush and migrant generations to which my parents and grandparents belonged. They were relatively poor and suffered discrimination in Britain, and I suspect that’s what led them to vote Labour.

But in this month’s general election, I had to make a decision: whether to vote according to my parents’ traditional Labour values or my own socioeconomic position.

Initially, I was torn. As soon as I turned 18, I knew I would definitely vote for the Labour Party in line with my family. It simply became a habit to subscribe to the same politics – and while living under their roof, that was important.

But this year, with Jeremy Corbyn as leader, I could no longer vote for the Labour Party. While I respect Labour’s impulse to support the poorest and most marginalised members of British society, their policies have become unpopular.

The party’s manifesto seemed somewhat radical: nationalising key industries, including the provision of free broadband, tax rises for the country’s top 5 per cent of earners, changes to inheritance tax relief, a four-day working week, scrapping the marriage tax allowance, and removal of charitable tax status for private schools, resulting in a 20 per cent VAT charge on top of school fees. While I would prefer to use the state school system, I also believe that it doesn’t serve black children in London well enough.

Labour need to realise that they don’t own the “black vote”. But a vote for the Conservative Party has been met with resentment and disapproval among leftist black people, many of whom are aggrieved at the party’s historic links with racism and far-right politics.

The assumption that black Conservative voters are simply “pulling up the ladder”, having achieved personal success, is particularly frustrating. Reni Eddo-Lodge, black British author of Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race tweeted: “‘Pull up the ladder’ attitudes turn my stomach, I’m sorry to say. The fact that my circumstances make me an anomaly among my peers exposes the problem. The more money I earn, the more can I see how rigged the system is.”

While I disagree with Eddo-Lodge’s negative reaction to the reasons why I voted Conservative, she’s right to say that the system is broken. It’s designed to keep people like me and Eddo-Lodge exactly where we are. But it’s equally racist to think that black people should stay in their place – especially when it comes to conforming to Labour’s socialist ideology.

I was raised in a working-class household. I have worked hard and paid taxes my entire life so that I can invest in my children and their future. What’s the point of working hard just so Corbyn can snatch the fruits of my labour?

As a black Briton voting for the Conservatives, I felt like I was choosing the lesser of two evils. And in spite of alleged racism, Islamophobia and now links to far-right fascist parties, I stick by my democratic choice to vote Conservative based on their plans for education, employment, business and the economy.

There’s also Brexit to contend with. I voted to remain within the European Union, but I think it’s vital to respect what was a democratic vote rather than suggest holding a second referendum or reversing Brexit.

With this election, the Conservatives have increased their complement of Bame MPs from 19 to 22. I don’t feel overly represented in parliament, but I’m giving Boris Johnson five years to prove that he can bring about the change promised in his manifesto and eliminate the racist political discourse that has dogged his party.