It has emerged that the Labour Party is considering introducing all-Black shortlists in a bid to increase ethnic minority representation.

"Those who stand for the Labour Party have to be seen as representing the community as a whole," the party's chairman, Ian McCartney, told the Black Links website.

"If you have a Labour council in a multiracial community then the council should reflect the nature of its community."

"The House of Commons nowhere near reflects the nature of the community right now."