The four who changed
what was possible
The Class of June 1987
Diane Abbott
Hackney North & Stoke Newington
First Black woman elected to the UK Parliament
Bernie Grant
Tottenham
Founding chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus
Paul Boateng
Brent South
First Black Cabinet minister in British history
Keith Vaz
Leicester East
Longest-serving British Asian MP, serving Leicester East from 1987 to 2019
Labour MPs from minority ethnic backgrounds, 2024 Parliament — a record, and still not parity.
66
House of Commons Library, 2024
Black Labour councillors approximately 1.5% of all councillors in England, Scotland and Wales. Population share: 4.4%.
860+
House of Commons Library, 2024
Black permanent secretaries in the most senior civil service grades. Population share: 4.4%.
1.5%
Cabinet Office Diversity Data
Years since Abbott, Grant, Boateng and Vaz first entered the Commons. We continue what they began.
39
1987 Committee
The four who changed
what was possible
The Class of June 1987
In Parliament, the judiciary, the civil service, the media, and the boardroom. We exist to close them.
We are an independent forum not a party body, not a diversity consultancy. Named for a moment of history and working for the future it promised.
Since founding, we have trained 127+ activists, convened ministers and community leaders, and published research designed to be read by the people who can act on it.
The representation gap is measurable. The causes are known. The solutions exist. The only question is whether enough people care enough to close it.
Four commitments. One movement.
What We Do
Every programme we run, every paper we publish, every conversation we host serves one of these four goals.
Research & Evidence
Independent research on Black political representation across every forum that holds power in Britain. Our annual State of Black Political Britain report is the definitive audit. Used by ministers, journalists, and civil society.
Policy & Advocacy
We turn evidence into argument, and argument into change. We submit to parliamentary inquiries, respond to government consultations, and publish proposals designed to be read by those with the power to act on them.
Leadership Pipeline
The 1987 Pathway: a structured, multi-year journey from grassroots activism into elected office. Cohort-based, mentor-led, alumni-tracked. Council, mayoral, parliamentary because representation does not happen by accident.
Convene & Amplify
From our In Conversation With series to our annual conference, we bring together those who hold power and communities excluded from it. On the record. Documented. Reaching audiences that matter.
The representation gap is measurable.
The solutions exist.
Why This Work Matters Now
Since founding, we have trained a growing network of activists, built working relationships with parliamentarians, councillors and community leaders across the country, and published research designed to be read by the people who can act on it.
Reform UK council seats gained in May 2026
1,453+
Black councillors missing from London alone, relative to population share
~100
66
Black permanent secretaries in the UK Civil Service. Population: 4.4%.
Labour MPs from minority ethnic backgrounds in the 2024 Parliament
1.5%
Two papers. One year.
Built to be read by ministers.
Both arise from our November 2025 Youth Roundtable inside the Palace of Westminster. Each has a young lead author. Each launches with cross-party partners.
Launching · Q3 2026
Selection at every level: barriers facing Black candidates in 2026
An exhaustive analysis of the systemic hurdles from internal gatekeeping to network access that continue to define the candidate journey for Black political aspirants across Britain.
~12,000 WORDS · 8 CASE STUDIES · PEER REVIEWED
Research & Policy
Launching · Q1 2027
The next four years: local government reorganisation & Black political representation
How the radical restructuring of municipal authority and ward boundaries will create new pathways and new risks for Black representation at the local level.
~16,000 WORDS · WARD-LEVEL DATA · CROSS-PARTY LAUNCH
On the record with the people
shaping British politics.
In Conversation With
Long-form conversations with MPs, ministers and organisers working on race, representation and power. Every episode on our YouTube channel.
In conversation with
Luke Akehurst MP
Labour's path forward
Representation, party strategy, and the policy fights of the coming years. 57 mins.
In conversation with
James Asser MP
Journey into politics
A candid conversation on community, Parliament and the road to elected office.
In conversation with
David Burton-Sampson MP
Power, progress & representation
One of Parliament's most authentic voices on inclusion, community leadership and accountability.
In conversation with
Miatta Fahnbulleh MP
Vision, change & Black women in politics
International Women's Day special on vision, impact and what comes next.
In conversation with
Mike Reader MP
Equity, youth & progressive policy
Representation, resilience and reform with one of today's most authentic voices in Parliament.
In conversation with
Natasha Irons MP
Shaping the future of the Labour Party
A dedicated advocate for social justice, public services, and community empowerment.
Long-form conversations.
Young Black voices.
The Long View · Youth Podcast
"Every voice that speaks through our platform reaches an audience that matters."
The Long View Podcast — Hosted by the 1987 Committee
Our flagship podcast series launching late 2026. Long-form conversations with MPs, councillors, and organisers shaping Black political life in Britain. New every other Tuesday. Each episode comes with a full transcript and a one-page policy note.
Apple — coming soon
Training the next generation
of Black political leaders.
The 1987 Pathway
127+
Activists in development
39
Years of legacy
6mo
Programme duration · Starting Oct 2026
All
Levels: grassroots to Parliament
Our flagship six-month programme launching October 2026 takes Black activists from grassroots organising into elected and appointed office, from parish councils to parliamentary candidacies. Cohort-based, mentor-led, and alumni-tracked at every level.
Applications open · Cohort starts October 2026
Email info@1987committee.com
The representation gap is measurable. The causes are known. The solutions exist. The only question is whether enough people care enough to close it.
The 1987 CommitteE
Membership is how the work gets done.
Membership
Membership is how the work gets funded, how the research gets done, and how the next generation of leaders gets trained. Choose the level that works for you. Join us.