Political parties are not doing enough to tackle the hold of the Beraderi (clan) system when it comes to recruiting candidates from the community.

That is according to a senior Labour Party figure, Shahid Malik who was speaking on a BBC Radio 4 documentary. He commented on how potential political candidates were being blocked from going into office because of the beraderi system evident within the Pakistani community.

His comments re-ignited the debate surrounding the belief that members of certain clans and networks greatly influenced who would go forward and win selection and who people voted for.

Shahid Malik speaking on the programme said, " The Labour party and other parties have known about this issue but have seen it as a sensitive issue to tackle. They have got used to dealing with the self nominated elders and this has prevented women and young people in rising up the ranks."

"One of the things that has held back British Pakistanis and Kashmiri's in this country has been the clan mentality, how people support and who people support."

"Unless and until the main political parties take responsibility then the clan mentality will continue and people will continue to abuse the democratic process and we're not going to get the kind of healthy outcomes we are looking for."

Within the community there have been cases where political activists have colluded to ensure that members of the extended family and those of the same beraderi are selected to stand. There are beliefs those selected then are simply hungry for power and prestige rather than qualified enough to actually make a difference to their respective communities.

It has been noted that within certain wards it is almost impossible for an 'outsider' to even be considered for election because the beradari system holds sway.

His views were echoed by some members of the local community who had had first hand experience of working within the political constraints imposed by such a system. However, others believed the beradari system had lost its hold on local politics altogether.

Speaking to Asian Image, Former Blackburn with Darwen Councillor Mike Madigan said, "It is an issue on which I have voiced my concerns in the past. Parties need to stop patronising certain communities.

"I think the Labour party has taken some steps to resolve this but personally I feel candidates should have a set criteria with which they must fulfill such as a command of English."

"I agree with the notion that such networks have a negative affect on the community."

Blackburn with Darwen Councillor Mohammed Khan felt the system was not as widespread. He said, "It is important not to generalise and it depends where you are based. Things have changed and I think people are intelligent enough to put forward the best candidate.

"I personally urge all members of the community to always vote on merit because it affects your neighbourhoods and the lives of your children."

Coun Imtiaz Patel felt that the problems have arisen only when tradition and politics have mixed. "I think the beradari system exists within all communties but it tends to be more visible within the Pakistani community. And it would be wrong to say it is a feature only within the Pakistani community.

"Tradition and culture cannot be criticised as such but when people abuse this system to win elections, that is when we see it having a negative effect."

Liberal Democrat MEP candidate Sajad Karim felt that if people didn't vote for the best person they were doing themselves a dis-service. "Who can say the person elected is not neccessarily the best person for the job. In all communities and not just Asian you could sometimes say the person put forward doesn't have the right qualifications.

"I don't think it is a major issue within Pendle because sometimes we have had two people from the same beradari contesting the same seat.

" If we don't promote the best we are indeed going backwards."

Manchester Councillor Afzal Khan said that the host community have also had a problem in promoting women and youngsters. He told us, "Political parties will try to talk to to the most influential people in all communities not just within the Asian community.

"I think to a degree it is an issue which needs to be looked at but so do others which affect the community such as equality, Islamaphobia and racism."