Tories agree UK is ‘no longer’ rigged against ethnic minorities in new strategy

On Wednesday night, the Tories published its ‘Inclusion Britain’ strategy containing 70 actions to tackle racial disparities. The strategy was developed in response to the controversial race review published last year.

The Government agrees with the controversial race review’s finding that institutional racism does not exist in the UK, it has emerged in a new strategy published this evening.

Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch echoed conclusions made by Dr Tony Sewell in the landmark race report that Britain is “no longer” rigged against ethnic minorities.

In a 97-page report titled ‘Inclusive Britain: the government’s response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities’ Ms Badenoch boasted: “We’re already one of the fairest countries in the world”.

Ms Badenoch dismissed the notion that ethnic minorities face barriers to opportunities because of their race, because “a huge proportion of white people from deprived backgrounds continue to be left behind by society”.

Within the report published on Wednesday night, the Government set out plans to level up opportunities across the country.

The Mirror understands officials aim to tackle barriers to opportunities from a holistic perspective, addressing the issues people of all racial backgrounds face, rather than focusing on ethnic minority groups.

The report states: “This government wants to address that deficit of trust both by levelling up where opportunities are genuinely lacking and countering the pessimism that often prevails in debates about race in the UK.”

Ms Badenoch outlined 70 actions to “tackle racial disparities, boost opportunity and promote fairness”.

Among its commitments were plans to trial using an opt-in legal advice service for ethnic minorities in police custody for the rest of this year.

The Government aims to assess if “better advice” will lead to “improved outcomes” for ethnic minorities after they are arrested.

The report also plans to develop a national framework for how police powers such as stop and search are scrutinised.

Ms Badenoch said: “The ‘ Inclusive Britain’ Action Plan sets out how we are going to tackle the racial and ethnic disparities that persist in the UK.

“I strongly believe that Britain is the fairest and most open-minded country in the world, but there is more we can do to foster inclusion and enable everyone to reach their full potential.

“The causes behind racial disparities are complex and often misunderstood. Our new strategy is about action, not rhetoric and will help create a country where a person’s race, social or ethnic background is no barrier to achieving their ambitions.”

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities added: “Central to Levelling Up is equality – giving everyone the same access to a great education, a well-paid job and a good standard of living – regardless of their background.

“The Inclusive Britain Action Plan is fundamental to our ambitions, helping us tackle the root-causes of racial disparities and ensure equality of opportunity for all.”

It comes almost a year after the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities said Britain should be a “model” for other countries and said structural racism does not exist in the UK.

The race report Commission was ordered by No10 in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests triggered across the world after George Floyd’s horrific death.

It claimed “most of the disparities we examined… often do not have their origins in racism”.

Ms Badenoch slammed critics who found the race review “cynical” PR, “gaslighting” and an “insult”.

She said in the report: “Some of the report’s conclusions were relatively uncontroversial. Others challenged the lazy consensus.”

Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Taiwo Owatemi said: “It’s disgraceful that we’ve had to wait almost a year for the Government’s response – and worse still that it agrees with the original report’s denial of structural racism.

“Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have once again failed to deliver meaningful action.

“In doing so, they have let down Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.”

The report comes after Mr Sewell lost his honorary degree from Nottingham University because of the race report he led.

As the race review was published, Dr Sewell said that although there was “anecdotal evidence” of racism in the UK, the use of the term “institutional racism” needed to be reviewed.