By Ben Kerrigan-
Boris Johnson’s announcement of a cross-government commission to examine “all aspects” of racial inequality in the UK will be challenging but necessary.
Exactly how this will be achieved is yet to be seen, but the British prime minister has already acknowledged it won’t be easy. At least Mr Johnson must be credited for taking the necessary step, and ethnic minorities will need to be patient while observing how changes occur.
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The Committee will first have to identify areas where racial inequalities are evident, not just based on a perception.
It will then have to take recommendations on how to address those inequalities. Addressing racial inequality will mean achieving equality where it is evident that inequalities are racially based. Propositions from all corners can be expected, but the Committee will decide which proposals have merit.
An interesting factor will be to see who makes up the committee and how they will determine those areas that need to be addressed. There might be a feeling that only ethnic minorities are capable of addressing racial issues, but as the protests associated with black lives matters show, there are many white individuals with integrity and decency who will be expected to address racial inequalities fairly.
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The views of well placed ethnic minorities will no doubt be required, and some will be expected to sit on the committee Boris Johnson plans to set up.
Disparities
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, the prime minister said that Britain had much more to do to tackle racism.
He said the commission on race and ethnic disparities would look at “all aspects of inequality – in employment, in health outcomes, in academic and all other walks of life”.
Mr Johnson wrote: “No one who cares about this country can ignore the many thousands of people who have joined the Black Lives Matter movement to protest peacefully, as most of them have, in the last few days.
“It is no use just saying that we have made huge progress in tackling racism. There is much more that we need to do; and we will.”
Johnson expressed an interest to change the narrative ”so we stop the sense of victimisation and discrimination.
“We stamp out racism and we start to have a real sense of expectation of success.
“That’s where I want to get to but it won’t be easy.”
The announcement follows two weeks of protest across the country by the Black Lives Matter movement following the killing in the U.S of George Floyd who died as a white police office knelt on his neck.
Liberal Democrat equalities spokeswoman Christine Jardine said the commission was a “welcome first step” but said the government must go further.
“Too many people’s lives are blighted by discrimination, inequality and injustice. The government must move further and faster to redress institutional racism in the criminal justice system and many other parts of our society,” she said.
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