A WORCESTER woman has been chosen to shadow high-profile politicians in the Houses of Parliament as part of a scheme to nurture the next generation of black, Asian and Chinese MPs and community leaders.

Selected from more than 150 applicants, Yinka Alli-Balogun will shadow Liberal Democrat John Leech, who is MP for Manchester Withington.

Other MPs participating in the scheme include Oliver Letwin, the Conservative minister in the cabinet office responsible for co-ordinating government policy, Labour leadership candidates David Miliband, Ed Miliband, Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott, as well as Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, among others. Ms Alli-Balogun, who covered for Jackie Alderson, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Worcester, at this year’s general election at an event at the university, said: “I hope to gain a better insight into political life and the ways I can improve to increase my chances of success in the field.

“Also, I hope to learn difference techniques to become a better champion for the community of people I hope to represent.”

Ms Alli-Balogun app-lied to be a part of the MP shadowing scheme launched by Operation Black Vote (OBV) – a non-party political campaign – in partnership with the Communities and Local Government (CLG) department.

Over a period of six months, 31 black and minority ethnic individuals will shadow MPs and peers from all the three main parties.

With guidance from their MPs and peers and intense training with regards to policy, media, and activism, OBV expects the vast majority of participants to hold political or civic positions in the near future.

Others who have been on similar schemes or have been directly assisted by OBV include the first Muslim female cabinet member Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former cabinet member Sadiq Khan, and the first female Conservative of African origin Helen Grant, who shadowed Mr Letwin on the last programme.

Speaking at the launch held earlier this month, Andrew Stunell, parliamentary under secretary at CLG, said: “The House of Commons is still disproportionately white, but things are moving in the right direction.

“This Government wants a fair society where race and ethnicity are no barriers to taking part. This scheme will provide 31 ambitious ethnically diverse people with invaluable experience and guidance to help them make parliament and local councils more truly reflect our communities.”