Bernie Grant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernie Grant
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Grant's funeral programme
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| Member of Parliament for Tottenham |
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| In office 11 June 1987 – 8 April 2000 |
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| Preceded by | Norman Atkinson |
| Succeeded by | David Lammy |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Bernard Alexander Montgomery Grant
17 February 1944 Georgetown, British Guiana |
| Died | 8 April 2000 (aged 56) London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Sharon Grant |
| Alma mater | Heriot-Watt University |
Bernard Alexander Montgomery Grant (born 17 February 1944 – died 8 April 2000) was a British Labour Party politician. He served as the MP for Tottenham, London, from 1987 until his death in 2000.
Who Was Bernie Grant?
Early Life and Education
Bernie Grant was born in Georgetown, which was then called British Guiana. His parents were schoolteachers. In 1963, his family moved to the UK. This was part of an offer from the UK government for people from its colonies to settle in Britain.
Grant attended Tottenham Technical College. He then started a degree in Mining Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. However, he did not complete his degree.
Starting in Politics
In the mid-1960s, Grant was briefly a member of a political group called the Socialist Labour League. This group later became known as the Workers Revolutionary Party. He quickly became involved in trade unions, which are groups that protect workers' rights.
He then moved into local politics. In 1978, he became a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Haringey. A councillor is someone elected to represent people in a local area.
Leading the Council
In 1984, the Conservative government introduced "rate capping." This limited how much money local councils could raise. Bernie Grant led a protest against this in Haringey. This caused some disagreements within his local Labour Party. Despite this, Grant became the leader of the Haringey Council in 1985.
Public Attention and Controversy
In 1985, there were serious events in the Broadwater Farm area. During this time, a policeman was sadly killed. Bernie Grant became widely known after he gave a speech outside Tottenham Town Hall. He said that the police were responsible for what happened.
These comments were strongly criticized by the Labour Party leaders. The government minister, Douglas Hurd, called him "the high priest of conflict." Some newspapers also gave him a nickname. Grant said his words were misunderstood. He later apologized to the policeman's family. He explained that he was trying to share how people in the area felt.
Becoming an MP
The controversy did not stop Bernie Grant from being elected. In the 1987 general election, he became the MP for Tottenham. He was one of the first Black British MPs elected in the UK. Others elected at the same time included Diane Abbott and Paul Boateng. Keith Vaz also became the first British Asian MP since the 1920s.
Grant later tried to become the deputy leader of the Labour Party. However, he was not successful.
Parliamentary Black Caucus
In 1989, Bernie Grant started and led the Parliamentary Black Caucus. This group was inspired by a similar one in the United States. Its goal was to improve opportunities for ethnic minority communities in Britain.
Campaigning for Reparations
In 1993, Grant helped create and lead the African Reparations Movement (ARM UK). This movement campaigned for reparations for slavery and racism. Reparations mean making amends for past wrongs. ARM UK was formed after a conference in Nigeria about reparations.
On 10 May 1993, Grant brought a motion to the House of Commons. This motion asked the international community to recognize the "moral debt" owed to African people. It urged countries that benefited from slavery and colonization to consider paying reparations. The motion also highlighted the ongoing effects of exploitation and racism. Many other Labour MPs supported this motion.
Grant believed that reparations should include returning stolen African cultural items, like the Benin Bronzes. He also thought the British government should help people who wanted to return to their home countries.
Personal Life and Death
Bernie Grant was known for speaking out against racism by the police. He was married three times. He lived with his third wife in Muswell Hill. He had diabetes since his thirties.
Bernie Grant died from a heart attack on 8 April 2000, at the age of 56. His funeral procession on 18 April went through Tottenham. It paused as it passed the Broadwater Farm estate. Many people, estimated around 3,000, came to pay their respects. There were dancers, singers, a Highland piper, and African drums. Several important government ministers also attended.
Bernie Grant's Legacy
After Grant's death, his widow, Sharon, was considered to take his place as the Labour candidate for Tottenham. However, David Lammy, then 27, was chosen instead. Lammy won the by-election in June 2000.
Remembering Bernie Grant
In September 2007, the Haringey Council opened the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham. This centre was named in his honour.
On 28 October 2012, a blue plaque was put up at Tottenham Old Town Hall. This plaque, organized by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, pays tribute to Grant.
On 5 December 2017, a portrait of Bernie Grant was revealed in Parliament. The portrait was drawn using pencil and charcoal by artist Kelvin Okafor. It is now part of the Parliamentary Art Collection.
Inspiring Future Leaders
In March 2019, the Labour Party started the Bernie Grant Leadership programme. This program aims to train and support Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) Labour members. It helps them take on leadership roles and develop skills.
Dawn Butler, a Labour politician, said that Grant "campaigned tirelessly for the elimination of racism." She added that he was a "champion of his community" and has inspired a generation of BAME leaders.
Grant's important papers and records are kept at the Bishopsgate Institute.
Images for kids
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Grant's funeral programme
