LABOUR ARE considering a raft of radical anti-racism policies such as fining firms who fail to tackle racism, we can exclusively reveal.
Sir Keir Starmer has responded to mounting pressure from black MPs and party members by setting up a new race policy group which includes Baroness Doreen Lawrence and equalities spokesperson Anneliese Dodds.
The group are fleshing out what a Race Equality Act would look like, and have discussed policies around ending deportations for people who have lived in Britain since being a child.
Other policies include tackling school exclusion rates, giving black-led firms more opportunities to get a slice of government contracts through ‘procurement’, and making companies implement action plans to tackle the ethnicity pay gap.
An award-winning human rights lawyer, who is a member of the group, laid out radical plans to tackle systemic racism if Labour wins the next general election.
Speaking exclusively to The Voice Jacqueline McKenzie, who is widely praised for her support of Windrush Scandal victims, expressed hope that the ideas from legal and policy experts working with the party will make it into Labour’s manifesto.
She said the group were determined to tackle workplace discrimination, while countering the Tories hostile environment on immigration and asylum.
McKenzie described the ideas as a “good first step” in making positive change for black communities.
Since announcing plans to create a ‘Race Relations Act’ in 2020, Labour has offered little detail about what the legislation might entail.
There had been concerns from black MPs and party members that Labour were considering ditching promises in the 2019 Race and Faith mini-manifesto, authored by Dawn Butler and Jeremy Corbyn.
McKenzie said that Labour wanted to build on that document, and go further to make the pledge by Dodds to “tackle structural racism” a reality.
Labour’s move comes after months of pressure over perceived lack of progress on developing race equality policy.
McKenzie revealed some of the details of what Labour’s Race Equality Act might actually mean in practice if the party acted on advice offered by the group.
IMMIGRATION AND WINDRUSH
McKenzie said there was a strong consensus in the group that the Nationality and Borders Act should be repealed, with more discussions planned in the weeks ahead.
She said: “To repeal the Borders Act and say we’re not going to deport anybody who was here as a child, thousands of them each year, is quite a radical thing.”
The Act has been heavily criticised by human rights groups and led to controversial attempts by the Home Office to deport potential asylum seekers to Rwanda. The law also gave the government power to revoke citizenship without notice.
RACISM IN THE WORKPLACE
There is a need to consider fines for firms that fail to tackle racial disparities at work, McKenzie said.
“There was a total commitment to that at the employment session, [to monitor] the ethnicity pay gap but also making sure there are real enforcement mechanisms to force it.
“Because just asking people to audit might get employers to think, but without action it’s all performative.”
Racism in the workplace is costing the economy billions each year, and disproportionate black unemployment and the ethnicity pay gap is having a devastating impact on black communities.
McKenzie also argued that black companies should also get the chance to get their fair share of the billions of pounds paid each year through procuring government contracts.
“There are no black firms that currently benefit at all, African heritage firms. We discussed that at length.”
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
The group is keen for Labour to act on the Lammy Review to reduce disproportionate sentencing outcomes for black communities. They are set to have an in-depth look at criminal justice in March, including discussions on tackling racial bias in the Crown Prosecution Service as well as the judiciary.
The group could recommend repealing the Tory Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which has been accused of marginalising black and minority communities as well as threatening the right to protest, a fundamental right in any democracy.
The issues which led to the ‘Child Q’ scandal are expected to also be addressed.
EDUCATION AND HEALTH
McKenzie said the group is “very committed” to tackling school exclusion rates, and reforming the curriculum to reflect modern Britain.
There was a “broad consensus” for better teacher training, and tackling the disproportionate number of black students dropping out from university, often for financial reasons.
Barriers faced by black people in health, such as quality of treatment and accessing services, are also on the agenda.
HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
The group “are committed to the Human Rights Act” and McKenzie adds: “If it’s repealed before a Labour government comes in then I think they would want to create something very similar.”
The government wants to scrap the Human Rights Act that enshrines the European Convention of Human Rights into UK law, which has proved crucial in securing justice for Windrush victims, preventing wrongful deportations, and has been used in challenging deaths in custody and state surveillance.
NEXT STEPS
The big question is how a new collection of race equality policies will look in its final form, and what Starmer’s team will do with them, and how many will make the cut for the party’s manifesto at the next general election.
McKenzie is clear that a Race Relations Act is “a very good positive start” but, she added: “it will take years to change the system. But none of it has a chance unless we get a Labour government because nobody else is going to do it.
“It’s a bold, brave innovative and important step for Labour and I hope that policy makers once they see the proposals will see that this is a very important thing to do”
Labour now has a unique opportunity to act on these positive ideas, to replenish faith among many of its loyal black voter base that their support at the ballot box will be rewarded.
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What is Labour offering the black community… and what could the party be offering?
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3 Comments
I’m glad to read this piece, for now at least Labour is thinking about the importance of Black Vote. But I hasten to add is this a proper commitment or just another promise. Racism and Islamophobia still raises its head frequently Their selection process at Cllr level has meant in some areas with high density of minority communities has been taken away from
Local to regional level. To some extent this understandable as Cllr’s were being selected by packing membership and secreting at ward level, this has been a type of corruption. But to deny all members and take away their selection rights shows an unfair deal. New cllr application did not even yet look in. Some of The existing good ones still haven’t heard if they been selected by the region and election is around the corner. Labour need to become more representative if it’s constituents and members and supporters. It needs to a honest look and ensure a fair and transparent selection process and address all issues affecting each community at local and National level.
At General Elections, all Sir Kier Starmer’s Labour Party wants from His Majesty’s African-heritage voters, is our votes, and support for his Labour Party.
Sir Kier Starmer, and his Labour Party, has demonstrated in so many ways his marginalisation of issues of concern to African-heritage people.
As a white Briton, I recognise that Britain would be nothing without Black People. This is a great way to start to pay them back. I hope, one day, I can give everything I own to the Black Community.