Labour launches ambitious Race and Faith Manifesto rooted in social justice, internationalism and human rights

Jeremy Corbyn, Dawn Butler and Diane Abbott will launch Labour’s most ambitious Race and Faith Manifesto tomorrow (Tuesday 26 Nov) at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham.

Dawn Butler, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary launched the Race and Faith consultation at Labour Party conference, which has received over 1,700 online responses, and has held consultation events across the country to get to the heart of the issues affecting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and faith communities.

Major policy announcements as part of Labour’s new Race and Faith Manifesto include:

• The creation of an Emancipation Educational Trust to ensure historical injustice, colonialism and role of the British empire is taught in the National Curriculum;
• Extend pay gap reporting to BAME groups to tackle pay discrimination based on race;
• Establish a Race Equality Unit based within the Treasury which will review major spending announcements for its impact on BAME communities;
• End the rip-off charges for passports, visas, tests and other documentation imposed by the Home Office;
• Launch a wide ranging review into the underrepresentation of BAME teachers in schools;
• An independent review of far-right extremism which has seen significant growth over the last few years.

The new manifesto is ambitious and transformative, pushing back on nearly a decade of Tory austerity and policies that have decimated BAME and faith-based communities in particular. These communities already suffer from significant inequalities in employment, education and representation in public life. The manifesto is a direct culmination of the consultations that Labour has held, making it a unique people-powered manifesto that will have impact for positive change.

The harmful rhetoric around Brexit - some of which has been instigated by Boris Johnson - has led to a spike in hate crime and abuse faced by BAME and faith communities. And, while the Tory manifesto states they will make the immigration system “more fair and compassionate”, they were the architects of the ‘hostile environment’ which gave way to the Windrush scandal leaving many in limbo without access to vital services and even in some cases facing certain death.

A Labour government will heal the harmful divisions in our communities and address the devastation caused by ten years of austerity, ruthlessly imposed on society by the Tories and Liberal Democrats. Labour recognises the value migrants have brought to the country, and will work towards creating an immigration system built on human rights and aimed at meeting the skills and labour shortages that exist in our economy and public services.

Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, said:

“Labour is the party of equality and human rights. Our Race and Faith Manifesto presents our unshakable commitment to challenge the inequalities and discrimination that has faced to many communities.

“Whatever your background, wherever you are from, whatever your faith or religious belief, you should have the chance to use your talents to fulfil your potential. Labour will tackle head on the barriers that have unfairly held back so many people and communities.  

“Labour is on your side and this election is a once-in-a-generation chance for real change for the many, not the few."

Dawn Butler, Labour’s Shadow Equalities and Women’s Secretary, said:

“We have heard from people all over the country who are passionate about their communities and want to work together with Labour to tackle the issues affecting them.

“While the Tories have used the divisive politics of hate, which culminated in the hostile environment and led to the Windrush scandal, we know that the fight for justice and change isn’t over.

“Only by acknowledging the historical injustices faced by our communities can we work towards a better future that is prosperous for all, that isn’t blighted by austerity and the politics of fear.

“Labour’s people powered Race and Faith Manifesto takes us beyond what we’ve previously committed in how we’ll radically shift policies to ensure the economic, social or structural barriers faced are addressed. It’s time for real change.”

Stephen Timms, Labour’s Faith Envoy, said:

“Faith groups – through foodbanks, are on the frontline dealing with emergencies caused by austerity policies. They see day after the damage that’s being caused.

“In the Labour Party, we want to give faith groups a voice as they call for change. And we recognise that their faith motivates their work.”

Diane Abbott, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said:

"I was thrilled to be in Southampton earlier this month to listen to a broad range of race and faith groups as part of our consultations.

“Labour’s Race and Faith Consultation was a crucial step in our delivering the most ambitious and transformational Labour manifesto yet, including cherishing our diversity, celebrating our unity and defending all religious communities when they are under attack.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• New policy announcements:

Economic empowerment, race and the economy

·         We will support our BAME wealth creators through the National Investment Bank with better access to finance.

·         We will establish a Race Equality Unit in HM Treasury to review all spending commitments for their impact on BAME communities.

·         We will extend pay gap reporting to BAME groups to employers with 250 employees or above and tackle pay discrimination on the basis of race.   

·         We will stamp out bias in recruitment and develop a strategy to end name-based recruitment across the private and public sector within the first 100 days of government.

Education

·         Launch a wide-ranging review into the under representation of BAME teachers in schools within the first month of government and develop a comprehensive strategy to recruit and retain BAME teachers.

·         The shortage of black teachers is a national issue. Representation is still not in line with British society. For example, according to government figures, Black African teachers made up only 1.3% of male teachers and 0.7% of female teachers, and white British teachers (86.7% of the sector) become 92.6% of head teachers. Source: https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/workforce-and-business/workforce-diversity/school-teacher-workforce/latest

Far-right extremism

·         We will commission an independent review into the far-right extremism and how to tackle it.

·         The Home Office is dealing with an increasing number of cases of suspected right-wing extremists from 968 in 2016-17 to 1,312 in 2017-18, and in September, Britain’s top counter-terrorism officer, the Met assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, said, the fastest growing UK terrorist threat is from the far right.

• Labour’s existing commitments to BAME and faith communities:

·       Eliminate racial inequality from our economy and extend pay gap reporting to ethnic minority groups and tackle pay discrimination on the basis of race.

·       An equality audit all our policies before, during and after implementation.

·       End the politics of hate and commission an independent review into the threat of far-right extremism and how to tackle it.

·       Enhance the powers and functions of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, making it truly independent, to ensure it can support people to effectively challenge any discrimination they may face.

·       Appoint a Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief to work across government to promote Freedom of Religious Belief in the UK and abroad.

·       Develop a comprehensive Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community equality strategy to tackle persistent inequalities, in particular within housing, education and criminal justice.

·       Ensure the views of communities with or without faith are respected and protected across our society.

• Inequality created by the Tories:

·       The Conservatives in government have used difference to divide our country. Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities have paid a high price for the Tory agenda of austerity and their politics of hate. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jun/14/austerity-has-fuelled-racial-inequality-in-the-uk-says-un-expert

·       Tory plans, according to which people have to show ID to vote, is an attempt to supress the vote of disproportionately BAME people. Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/13/conservatives-accused-of-election-rigging-leaked-id-plans-voter-fraud

Labour leading the way in BAME leadership

• Earlier this year, Labour launched The Bernie Grant Leadership programme to empower more BAME members to stand for elected positions at all levels within the Party and to enable more BAME members to enhance skills and to network. The programme is named in memory of the late pioneering MP and Council Leader, Bernie Grant, who was one of the UK's first Black British MPs who worked tirelessly to encourage a new generation of BAME Labour politicians. The programme has delivered comprehensive sessions and training on leadership, breaking barriers, and community organising to digital community organising, media management and political profile building.