ALL-BLACK shortlists designed to increase the number of ethnic minority MPs at Westminster are being considered by ministers.

A report commissioned by Harriet Harman, the equalities minister, recommends a change to the race discrimination laws. It proposes introducing the shortlists for four consecutive general elections to redress the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities at Westminster.

Although the proposals could face a challenge in the European court of human rights on grounds of racial discrimination, officials are confident that they would stand up to scrutiny. At present only 15 of the 646 MPs are from ethnic minorities, and only two of those 15 are women.

Harman’s paper claims that without positive discrimination it would take more than 75 years for parliament to reflect the racial make-up of Britain.

The document suggests that 2% of seats in each election be contested by ethnic minorities until black, Asian and other groups are fairly represented.

Under the plans, which would enable all political parties to discriminate in favour of ethnic minorities, white candidates would be barred from standing in about 10 winnable seats at each election.

Instead, shortlists would be made up of people from groups such as blacks, Chinese, Asians, Jews and Roma gypsies.

Ministers fear that underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in parliament is harming race relations. They are particularly concerned that alienation from the House of Commons may encourage some young Muslims to turn to extremism.

Supporters of the shortlists include David Lammy, the skills minister, one of the few black MPs. But Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, called the idea “divisive”, saying: “You need someone who embodies the whole community. I do not believe in segregation, and shortlists might isolate the white electorate.

“We need to empower BME [black and minority ethnic] people within the parties,” he added.

Harman’s proposals were written by the lobby group Operation Black Vote.

Its director, Simon Woolley, said: “The introduction of all-BME shortlists will once again give Labour the initiative in regards to the black vote.”

The plans would require the race discrimination laws to be changed and parliament to agree an exemption to allow positive discrimination for parliamentary candidates.

A similar exemption to sex discrimination laws allowed all-woman shortlists and led to a huge increase in the number of female Labour MPs.

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