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Black Lives Matter: We need action on racism not more reports, says David Lammy Black Lives Matter: We need action on racism not more reports, says David Lammy
(about 3 hours later)
Labour has criticised the PM's promise of a new commission to look at racial inequality, saying now is the time for action, not more reviews. Labour has strongly criticised the PM's promise of a new commission to look at racial inequality, saying now is the time for action, not more reviews.
Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the plan lacked detail and was "written on the back of a fag packet" to "assuage" anti-racism protests.Shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the plan lacked detail and was "written on the back of a fag packet" to "assuage" anti-racism protests.
The commission will look at criminal justice and education, No 10 said. No 10 said the commission will look at criminal justice and education.
It will also look at "wider inequalities", including issues facing "working class white boys in schools".It will also look at "wider inequalities", including issues facing "working class white boys in schools".
The prime minister's spokesman said its aim would be to set out a "new positive agenda for change".The prime minister's spokesman said its aim would be to set out a "new positive agenda for change".
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson announced the review would look at "all aspects of inequality". The spokesman added that work to begin the commission has begun, but there are no details on membership yet.
He said "no-one who cares about this country" could ignore the protests. Boris Johnson announced the review in an article in the Daily Telegraph that warned against attempts "to rewrite the past" and lamented that a statue of Winston Churchill in London's Parliament Square was boarded up due to vandalism during an anti-racism protest.
Thousands of people have marched in the UK as part of Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.Thousands of people have marched in the UK as part of Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.
The prime minister said he was setting up the commission as it was "no use just saying that we have made huge progress in tackling racism". In the Telegraph, Mr Johnson 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".
He wrote: "There is much more that we need to do; and we will. It is time for a cross-governmental commission to look at all aspects of inequality - in employment, in health outcomes, in academic and all other walks of life." "It is no use just saying that we have made huge progress in tackling racism," he wrote. "There is much more that we need to do."
Questions over inequality in health outcomes have been repeatedly raised during the coronavirus pandemic after figures showed more people from ethnic minority backgrounds were "disproportionately" dying with the virus.Questions over inequality in health outcomes have been repeatedly raised during the coronavirus pandemic after figures showed more people from ethnic minority backgrounds were "disproportionately" dying with the virus.
Mr Lammy said it was "deeply worrying" that the UK was still "having a conversation about whether racism actually exists".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the Labour MP said he did not know why the PM had "announced a commission behind a paywall, in the Telegraph, buried in the middle of yet another article about Churchill".
He went on to say that the announcement lacked detail because it was "written on the back of a fag packet yesterday to assuage the Black Lives Matter protest".
"Get on with the action, legislate, move - you're in government, do something," he said, insisting that the recommendations of past reviews should be implemented.
Mr Lammy said a number of inquiries into racial inequality had already been carried out, including his own report on the treatment of black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system and Theresa May's Race Disparity Audit.Mr Lammy said a number of inquiries into racial inequality had already been carried out, including his own report on the treatment of black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals in the criminal justice system and Theresa May's Race Disparity Audit.
"You can understand why it feels like, yet again in the UK, we want figures, data, but we don't want action," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "You can understand why it feels like, yet again in the UK, we want figures, data, but we don't want action," he told the programme.
"Black people aren't playing victim as Boris indicates, they're protesting precisely because the time for review is over and the time for action is now." Mr Johnson told broadcasters later that the government had "already acted on the Lammy report", but added "what we want to do is learn very fast what fresh changes we need to make".
Mr Lammy said the announcement lacked detail because it was "written on the back of a fag packet yesterday to assuage the Black Lives Matter protest". He said ministers would "continue to do more to ensure, for instance, that young black males who are involved in crimes don't automatically get moved to prosecution".
"Get on with the action, legislate, move - you're in government, do something," he said, adding that the recommendations of past reviews should be implemented.
What work has already been done on racial inequality in the UK?What work has already been done on racial inequality in the UK?
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said the new commission would be run out of the Cabinet Office and report to the prime minister, and would be asked to finish its work by Christmas.BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said the new commission would be run out of the Cabinet Office and report to the prime minister, and would be asked to finish its work by Christmas.
The commission will be overseen by Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, with independent members also on the panel. Its chair is yet to be identified.The commission will be overseen by Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, with independent members also on the panel. Its chair is yet to be identified.
There are expected to be public evidence sessions and legislation may follow.There are expected to be public evidence sessions and legislation may follow.
David Isaac, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said there had already been "countless reports" on racial inequality and "urgent action" was needed.David Isaac, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said there had already been "countless reports" on racial inequality and "urgent action" was needed.
He said he hoped the new commission would help deliver a "comprehensive race strategy with clear targets and timescales".He said he hoped the new commission would help deliver a "comprehensive race strategy with clear targets and timescales".
Lord Simon Woolley, founder of Operation Black Vote and the advisory chair of the government's Race Disparity Unit, said he was "encouraged" by the announcement.Lord Simon Woolley, founder of Operation Black Vote and the advisory chair of the government's Race Disparity Unit, said he was "encouraged" by the announcement.
However, he said the commission must lead to structural change to tackle the inequalities in employment, health and education laid bare by the pandemic.However, he said the commission must lead to structural change to tackle the inequalities in employment, health and education laid bare by the pandemic.
Former chancellor Sajid Javid said in a tweet that the commission was "very welcome" but "shining a light on injustice isn't enough".Former chancellor Sajid Javid said in a tweet that the commission was "very welcome" but "shining a light on injustice isn't enough".
"We need an action plan to tackle it," he added."We need an action plan to tackle it," he added.
Labour also criticised the prime minister for his language, after he told broadcasters he wanted to "change the narrative so we stop the sense of victimisation and discrimination".Labour also criticised the prime minister for his language, after he told broadcasters he wanted to "change the narrative so we stop the sense of victimisation and discrimination".
Shadow equalities secretary Marsha de Cordova described this as "condescending" and "designed to let himself and his government off the hook".Shadow equalities secretary Marsha de Cordova described this as "condescending" and "designed to let himself and his government off the hook".
Lord Woolley also said the phrase was "frankly unhelpful… unnecessary and to some hurtful".Lord Woolley also said the phrase was "frankly unhelpful… unnecessary and to some hurtful".
Liberal Democrat equalities spokesperson Christine Jardine said the commission was a "welcome first step" and showed the Black Lives Matter protests were working.Liberal Democrat equalities spokesperson Christine Jardine said the commission was a "welcome first step" and showed the Black Lives Matter protests were working.
But she added: "Its findings must not become simply another report on a shelf in Whitehall - the government must implement them without delay."But she added: "Its findings must not become simply another report on a shelf in Whitehall - the government must implement them without delay."
Meanwhile, a survey of people's attitudes to race in Britain carried out during recent protests suggests people are increasingly optimistic that the UK will become more tolerant and diverse.Meanwhile, a survey of people's attitudes to race in Britain carried out during recent protests suggests people are increasingly optimistic that the UK will become more tolerant and diverse.
When asked if they were optimistic Britain would be more tolerant and diverse in 10 years' time, two thirds of people polled by Ipsos Mori said they were, up from half in 2009. And 84% of people strongly disagreed when asked if someone has to be white to be truly British - up from 55% a decade earlier.When asked if they were optimistic Britain would be more tolerant and diverse in 10 years' time, two thirds of people polled by Ipsos Mori said they were, up from half in 2009. And 84% of people strongly disagreed when asked if someone has to be white to be truly British - up from 55% a decade earlier.
Mr Johnson also used his article in the Telegraph to defend the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, which was spray-painted with the words "was a racist" during protests last weekend.Mr Johnson also used his article in the Telegraph to defend the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, which was spray-painted with the words "was a racist" during protests last weekend.
He said the "serious points" being raised by anti-racism demonstrators should be taken seriously but this did not mean "wasting time" disputing the life and opinions of "every historical personality currently immortalised in bronze or stone".He said the "serious points" being raised by anti-racism demonstrators should be taken seriously but this did not mean "wasting time" disputing the life and opinions of "every historical personality currently immortalised in bronze or stone".
The UK should not attempt to "re-write the past" by removing historical symbols, he added.The UK should not attempt to "re-write the past" by removing historical symbols, he added.
"Let's fight racism, but leave our heritage broadly in peace. If we really want to change it, there are democratic means available in this country - thanks, by the way, to Winston Churchill," he said."Let's fight racism, but leave our heritage broadly in peace. If we really want to change it, there are democratic means available in this country - thanks, by the way, to Winston Churchill," he said.