Labour fails to involve Black people – Again!
JVL Introduction
Labour launched its plans for a new Race Equality Act and failed to invite key Black MPs, Councillors, media and community organisations. This snub did not go unnoticed. Furthermore, many have raised serious concerns about the plans eg for being “lacklustre” and “low hanging fruit” as well as the lack of detail, despite four years of committing to introducing such as Act. Black communities’ distrust of Labour is deepening as this article highlights.
Furthermore, even if this exclusion was unintentional, the best that can be said is that it was thoughtless, especially as this is not the first time that Black Party members at all levels have raised concerns over their treatment. We need to ask: why such experiences of Black people outlined in the Forde Report have not been acted on and why it is that a number of Black MPs have had the Labour Whip removed. Then we need to imagine a Labour policy launch on antisemitism without inviting (and, indeed, involving) Establishment Jewish Organisations and media. Coupled with concerns being raised within the Muslim Community, Labour’s failure on racism is worryingly divisive and dangerous.
LL
This article was originally published by The Voice on Tue 6 Feb 2024. Read the original here.
EXCLUSIVE: Black groups shut out from Labour’s launch of its Race Equality plans
A hastily planned event to which community organisations were not invited sparks accusations that the party is trying to evade Black voters’ criticisms of its race equality pledges
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Nothing in this report surprises me after all the debacles over the last 5 years. I just can’t express enough my disappointment and disgust at what has happened to the Labour Party.