On today’s (21st March) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, London’s Liberal Democrat MEP and vice-chair of the European Parliament’s anti-racism and diversity ‘intergroup’ Baroness Sarah Ludford is calling on member state governments to urgently step up progress on an EU measure to outlaw incitement to racial hatred.

According to new figures by the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency, over nine million people in 18 EU countries surveyed experienced racist crime in 2004 while racially or religiously aggravated offences recorded in England and Wales between April 2004 and March 2005 stood at 37,028 – 2,032 more than the previous year.

Baroness Ludford commented:

“Promoting inclusion and stopping discrimination make up the bedrock of European values.  It is shameful that as we approach the 50th anniversary of the European Union, racism, discrimination, harassment and disadvantage are a daily feature of life for all too many individuals.”

“While violence on the grounds of race and religion has continued to grow, EU legislation to combat race and religious hate crime has been stuck in the Council for the last five years. Governments must stop stalling!”

“It is difficult to explain to my constituents why EU legislation can protect them from discrimination in the workplace, but offers no such protection if they are physically or verbally attacked because of their beliefs or the way they look.”

Liberal Democrat MPs today urged people to remember the tragedy of the slave trade but not forget the persistent inequalities in modern society, in a Parliamentary debate today to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery in Britain.

Speaking in the debate, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Vince Cable MP said:

“It is important to remember the role Britain played in the past of first establishing and then dismantling the cruel international trade of people.

“But we should also remember those who settled here who face a continued disadvantage in schooling, over-representation in the prison population and higher than average levels of unemployment.”

The principal ports engaged in the slave trade were Bristol, Liverpool and London. Speaking after the debate, Bristol West Liberal Democrat MP, Stephen Williams said:

“The commemoration of the bicentenary of the ending of the slave trade is understandably an emotive issue in Bristol. We have to recognise the deep pain and hurt felt by many Bristolians, particularly those with Afro- Caribbean origins, whenever slavery is discussed. 

“For many years I have pressed for greater recognition and understanding of the city’s roles in the slave trade and in the West Indian plantations. 

“However, it is also right to recognise this year that Parliament struck a blow for human rights in 1807 and that many Bristolians of that time were involved in the campaign to end the slave trade and the eventual emancipation of all slaves.”

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone welcomed the ‘Moving On Up: Ethnic minority women at Work’ report released by the Equal Opportunities Commission today.

The report, which was based on two-year study- the largest of its kind in Britain, found that Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean women are facing intense discrimination in getting jobs and winning promotion. In addition they are suffering extreme pay inequality and are more likely to be segregated in certain types of work despite having good qualifications and strong motivation. The report also shows that there is a substantial full-time pay gap for women from all ethnic groups relative to white men, and that Pakistani women working full-time suffer a pay gap of 28 per cent, the highest of any group by this measure.

The report points out that racism, sexism and anti-Muslim prejudice based on widespread stereotypes make it harder for ethnic minority women to integrate in the workplace and to get promoted.

Welcoming the report, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said:

‘This report further proves that discrimination is the cause of inequality of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and black Caribbean women and debunks the myth that inequality can be dismissed as the result of so-called 'choice' or cultural factors. The pay and employment discrimination inequality being experienced by these women is unacceptable and demands action.

'The Government has an opportunity, through the Discrimination Law Review, to introduce the changes necessary to ensure that the recommendations in the Equal Opportunities Commission's report are given the backing of law. This would mean that employers were obliged to find out and publish and act on data on where black and Asian women were in their workforces, that there were more adequate rights to flexible working and that racism was properly tackled, in both the public and private sectors. The Discrimination Law Review is also an opportunity to introduce the changes needed to ensure that legal rights are more adequately enforced.'

‘London is a multicultural city and the contribution of ethnic minorities is vital to its success. London's employers need to act on these findings and the Government should ensure that the law is fully fit to root out discrimination.’

He continued:

‘The Women in London's Economy report year on year has demonstrated that London has a wider gender pay gap and, as the result of occupational segregation and the glass ceiling, are clustered into a narrow range of occupations, largely at the bottom of the pay scale. Single mothers in London actually have a lower disposable income than their counterparts in other parts of the UK and women with dependent children have a lower level of employment.

‘With 70 per cent of London's working women employed in the private sector and London's economy dependent on women workers, the EOC's report highlights the challenge to all employers. It underlines the need for action on pay inequality, laws which can combat the results of prejudice and support employees with caring responsibilities, and how firmer rights to take positive action would help women smash the glass ceiling.'

The Liberal Democrats have launched a Parliamentary internship scheme to encourage young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds to get involved in politics.

Organised in collaboration with Operation Black Vote and Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats, participants in the scheme will assist MPs or Party staff in Westminster, learning about the work of a political party, the procedures of Parliament and the role of an MP.

The intern scheme is part of a campaign by the Liberal Democrats to improve the representation of minority ethnic communities in the Parliamentary Party and in other areas of elected government in the UK. As well as working to ensure more people from BME communities are elected to public office today, the intern scheme also aims to invest in the next generation of politicians.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said:

“I am committed to making the Liberal Democrats more representative of modern Britain.
 
“Our new intern scheme will encourage young people from under-represented backgrounds to work in Westminster.

“Many people from ethnic communities still feel isolated from the political mainstream. A healthy democracy relies on everyone taking part and having his or her voice heard.”

Commenting on the Liberal Democrat intern scheme, National Co-ordinator of Operation Black Vote, Simon Wooley said:

“All the major political parties are having to face up to the challenge of representing and involving everyone in 21st century multi-cultural Britain.

“The ivory towers of Westminster are too often perceived as out of reach for young people from black and minority ethnic communities. The Liberal Democrats’ intern scheme is one way of creating opportunities for the next generation of black politicians.”

Commenting further, Chair of Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats, Meral Ece said:

“I am pleased that our leader, Menzies Campbell, is taking positive steps to make the Liberal Democrats more representative of modern day Britain.

“This intern scheme is one of many steps the Liberal Democrats are taking to encourage people from ethnic minority communities to get more involved in politics.

“As a mainsteam political party, we have a responsibility to ensure we reflect the people we seek to represent.”