Black History Month

Terry Jermy Excerpts

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Terry Jermy (South West Norfolk) (Lab)]

I thank the Minister for her opening remarks, and for her fortitude in delivering them. This year’s Black History Month focuses on honouring our communities, and I want to take the opportunity to bring hon. Members’ attention to the market town of Thetford in my constituency of South West Norfolk. A market town in rural Norfolk may not be the first place that Members think of when considering areas of social and cultural progress in the United Kingdom, but it was in my home town of Thetford that the UK had its first black mayor.

Allan Glaisyer Minns emigrated to England from the Bahamas as a child in the mid-1800s, and he began his story in London. After finishing at Nassau grammar school, he began studying medicine at Guy’s hospital, which is not far from here. Before the age of 30, he was already registered with the British Medical Association. Dr Minns moved to join his brother, who was practising medicine in Thetford. I have little doubt that the Norfolk weather did not quite match that of the Bahamas, and I am afraid that Thetford lacked sandy beaches. Regardless, there was something about our town and the community that made him want to stand for mayor.

Thetford’s community spirit and cohesion resonated with Dr Minns, because he decided to enter politics and was elected to serve on the town council. He was elected as a councillor in 1903, and he was elected by his peers to become mayor back in 1904. He served for 10 years as a local councillor, as well as serving as a local doctor, and he was elected as the mayor of Thetford twice. I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests: like Dr Minns, I have served as a member of Thetford town council. In my case, I was elected at 22. I am still there, some 19 years later—hon. Members can therefore work out my age. I, too, had the honour of becoming mayor of Thetford back in 2016, and I was proud to wear the same mayoral chain that was worn by Dr Minns all those years earlier.

[Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)]

I thank my hon. Friend for making an incredible speech and talking about a really trailblazing man in Dr Minns. I think we should all celebrate what he achieved in Thetford; it is a really wonderful story. We heard from my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Ms Oppong-Asare) about her experience of getting involved in politics. Does he share my concerns that, if Dr Minns put himself forward in politics now—with the horrible things that black MPs and black elected officials have to put up with online—it would be very difficult, and does he agree with me that it is the duty of everybody in this House to challenge the vile racism and disinformation that we see online?

--- Later in debate ---

[Terry Jermy]

Absolutely. I will come to some more recent examples that are less positive, but I absolutely share my hon. Friend’s sentiment.

Thetford lays claim to being the third oldest mayoralty in the entire country, and our civic history is truly fascinating, so it is particularly noteworthy that Dr Minns became the first black mayor. It is also worth mentioning that Dr Minns’s sister, Ophelia, was later elected on to the town council—at a time when women could not even vote in parliamentary elections. It shows that the Minns family story is part of our wider history of people who contributed to the life of their community at a time when opportunities to participate in public life were far from equal.

Thetford town council pays tribute to Dr Minns’s legacy by showing school groups around our guildhall and introducing them to his story, and like me, they feel amazed and proud. I pay tribute to local councillors such as Annie Blackbourn, Doug Jefferson and Stuart Wright, as well as the staff at Thetford town council, who are working to ensure that there is a statue of Dr Minns on permanent display in Thetford as we approach the 100th anniversary of his death in 2030. Dr Minns’s story reminds us that black history does not exist separately from the history of our towns and villages but is woven into the very fabric of our communities. He was not simply making history by becoming Britain’s first black mayor; he was serving his neighbours, contributing to civic life and helping to shape the future of our community.

[David Burton-Sampson]

Last night, I joined the 1987 Committee, set up by the fantastic Fatima Kamara and her team. As hon. Members can tell from its name, it recognises the year—that historic year—in which the Mother of the House, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), entered this House. It aims to help young black people get those opportunities to get involved in politics and in political and public life. Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating the 1987 Committee on the wonderful work it is doing with young black people to get them into the type of arena that we are in?

[Terry Jermy]

I recognise my hon. Friend’s own trailblazing experience as a fellow Member from the eastern region. I pay tribute to him, and I absolutely congratulate the organisation he mentioned.

It is really important that these achievements are recognised because, sadly, the story of Dr Minns was forgotten. For a while, it was thought that John Archer, the mayor of Battersea, was Britain’s first black mayor, despite being elected 10 years later. We must talk about and recognise these achievements—although I apologise to my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova)! I hope that mentioning Dr Minns’s story today will help to honour his legacy and highlight the work he did for his community. It is a reminder that democratic public participation belongs to everyone in our communities, and that the contributions of those who came before us should inspire all who follow.

It has been a difficult few months for my constituency, particularly for my home town of Thetford, with the violent protests in my community. I absolutely recognise that among those protesting were people with legitimate concerns about immigration—whether that be public safety or the impact on services—but, sadly, many were motivated by racism, and we must call out and denounce that at every opportunity. I similarly condemn those who fan the flames of extremism, particularly those who do so for political gain. Their actions led to black and minority ethnic members of my community feeling unsafe and living in fear—often the fear of being misidentified as an asylum seeker—which resulted in children of mixed heritage, like my 10-year-old niece, being asked at school if she was an asylum seeker.

We can and must do better than this. The Government, and the Home Office in particular, need to do far more in relation to community cohesion, particularly in areas such as mine that are close to a former military base that has been identified as a possible site to house asylum seekers, and for communities currently concerned about the dispersal policy.

[Jess Brown-Fuller]

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that we need to stop politicians from profiting by sharing such views? The hon. Member for Great Yarmouth (Rupert Lowe) has declared earnings of over £100,000 from X since being elected to this place, so it pays to say more explicitly appalling things. Does the hon. Member agree with me that we should end that practice entirely?

[Terry Jermy]

I absolutely agree—

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. Before the debate continues, it is etiquette when Members mention other Members in the Chamber to give them prior notice.

[Terry Jermy]

I share the concern that the hon. Member has raised.

It is clear that there is still a very long way to go to achieve equality. Remembering those pioneers, like Dr Minns and so many of the other people we have heard about today, must go hand in hand with examining the opportunities available to people today. We must ensure that everybody has a fair chance to progress at work, to contribute to public life and to have their voices heard. In my opinion, each act and gesture of tolerance and diversity makes us a stronger and more united country. Black History Month gives us an opportunity to share stories such as those of Dr Minns, and I thank the hon. Members for this opportunity to do so. It gives such stories fair recognition and ensures that future generations are aware of just how far we have come as a society, so that we can keep pushing further.

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

I call Dawn Butler, who I believe was the first black female Minister. Is that correct?