Labour is today launching a new nationwide consultation to develop the Party’s policies to fight discrimination and promote racial equality.
The consultation will be in partnership with the Race Equality Advisory Group, chaired by Patrick Vernon OBE and will engage Britain’s diverse communities and experts in a series of special events all over the country and online through the Your Britain policy website: http://goo.gl/9Ghhe1
The consultation will draw on the experiences and expertise of those people who are affected the most by racial discrimination and will support the work of Angela Rayner, Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, the National Policy Forum and Labour’s policy making process as part of its General Election manifesto development.
It will also build on the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Manifesto, which was launched for the 2015 General Election, and help develop policy on the changing nature of race inequalities and social justice. A key aim will be to formulate policy that will protect and enhance existing legislation, in the wake of the sharp rise in intolerance and hostility towards members of the BAME community and EU nationals in the aftermath of the Referendum.
Labour is committed to tackling the entrenched disadvantage and discrimination facing members of the BAME community, which is worsening under this Conservative Government.
Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, said:
“Labour has a proud history of tackling race equality, but recent events and the rise in extremism across Europe has shown that despite the progress which has been made, more work needs to be done.
"This consultation will take the first steps in developing policies which can tackle the structural issues which affect Britain’s BAME communities and the new challenges we all face in building a fairer, more equal society.”
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said:
“In Britain, hate crime is rising. More than half of all young black people are unemployed. Black people are a shocking 37 times more likely to be stop and searched. Labour must be a party that fights for black, Asian and ethnic minority communities - and a diverse and united Britain.
“Words matter. We must never pander to elements of the rightwing press, which sow division in our society and demonise Muslim communities. We must stand against antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism, wherever they exist.
“But it also means going further – and addressing the systematic disadvantage that so many people face. To build a society that works for everyone, we will end austerity and invest £500bn in jobs, infrastructure and public services as part of our plan to rebuild and transform Britain.”
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