Black Labour members gear up for conference protest over racism

Party HQ tell the ruling administrative committee that over half the Forde Report recommendations have either been implemented or will not be taken forward.

RACIALLY ABUSE: Diane Abbott was targeted by party staff because of her race

LABOUR’S RULING body is picking through the report on a “hierarchy of racism” this week ahead of the party’s annual conference.

News comes as the Labour Black Socialists group unveiled plans for a demonstration on Sunday as delegates gather in Liverpool.

Party apparatchiks at a key meeting yesterday suggested that over half the recommendations from the Forde Report have either been implemented or will not be taken forward.

Members of the National Executive Committee have until 5pm on Friday to flag up whether they disagree with the assessment of party HQ about which recommendations need action.

Black MPs Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler, Kate Osamor, Clive Lewis, Bell Riberio-Addy, and Kim Johnson have all criticised Labour’s response to the report which looked into racist abuse by HQ staff who were opposed to the then leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

Labour appeared to dismiss the findings of the Forde Report when it was published in July, with a spokesperson stating: “Starmer is in control now.”

Over 700 party members have signed an open letter to their leader demanding that more priority is given to tackling issues of racism identified in the report.

The letter states: “The impact of racism and institutional responses have left too many black members feeling violated and discriminated against; with some people too afraid to speak out.

“The silence on the findings of the Forde report particularly in relation to how Diane Abbott was treated, shows a clear lack of effort to acknowledge, apologise or sanction those involved.”

At an NEC meeting yesterday, party staff suggested that 45 of Forde’s recommendations had already been completed, and a further 41 recommendations will not be progressed.

There was a third “bucket” featuring 70 Forde recommendations that were either in progress or to be further analysed.

There will now be a new working group to look at how those are taking forward ahead of an NEC awayday on 29 November.

NEC members have until Friday to argue for report recommendations to be moved from one bucket to another.

However, there are no plans to debate the report at the party’s annual conference.

Comments Form

2 Comments

  1. | Chaka Artwell

    His Majesty’s African-heritage Labour voters. supporters, councillors and MPs must comprehend; acknowledge, and confront the awful truth that the Politically Correct, “anti-racist,” ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ proclaiming Labour Party, in practice, does not use these fine and noble words and policies to benefit African-skin men; women or the youth.

    Given that 65 percent of African-heritage people vote Labour, especially in English Cities, African-heritage Labour Voters receive very little for supporting the Labour Party.

    More troubling the Voice has reported on the prejudice and obstacles notable African heritage Labour MPs, Councillors and activists have experienced from their middle-class Labour colleagues; and Labour controlled Local Authorities.

    The Forde report reveal that even high-profile Labour MP, Diane Abbott, has been subjected to serious skin-colour abuse and rejection.

    It is time His Majesty’s African Heritage Subjects confront the awful reality that the Liberal and Labour Left pretend to care about African-heritage Subjects.

    The Liberal and Labour Left must not be relied upon to advocate or represent the current and historical concerns of His Majesty’s African-skin and African-heritage Subjects.

    African-heritage people require their own political representatives and political associations.

    Reply

  2. | Ubey

    Time for ethnic minorities to walk away from Labour. Where were the black faces on the platform?. As nasty as the Tory party is, colour does not seem such a barrier for their black members. Starmer continues to ignore non white racism at his peril.

    Reply

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