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Multiracial Britain
Respect is proud of our multiracial, multicultural society.

The tremendous mixing of people over the decades has enriched the lives of everyone in Britain. Yet at each stage, and again today, there have been politicians and sections of the press that have sought to scapegoat newcomers and those who have already settled here.

A century and a half ago, racism was directed at Irish immigrants. Then Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe were targeted. After the Second World War governments encouraged black and Asian people to come to Britain to meet the demand for labour. But they, too, faced racism and were then blamed whenever governments cut social services or employers slashed jobs.

Every group of immigrants has been greeted with dire predictions from sections of the establishment that they would not fit in, that people would never accept them and that society would collapse. Yet they have fitted in and ordinary people have come together again and again to reject the racists’ scaremongering. Our society is stronger and more vibrant as a result.

Imagine what our lives would be like in terms of music, sport, the NHS, our schools, the food we eat, the films we watch, our social services and every other area of life, without the contribution and mixing of black, white and Asian people.

That diversity, however, is under threat by those who would rather ordinary people turn against one another than come together to confront the real culprits – big business and the mainstream politicians who do its bidding.

New Labour and the Tories are vying with each other over who is the most anti-refugee and anti-immigrant.

This breeds not only hostility to newcomers but reinforces racism against those who were born here. Black people are highly integrated into British society, but they continue to face racism and discrimination in every area of life. They earn less than their white counterparts.

They are more likely to be excluded from school or be stopped and searched by the police or die in police custody.

Young Asian men too are now increasingly stopped and searched.

The government has passed laws calling on employers and public bodies to form policies to tackle racism, but in most cases these are merely token exercises. New Labour has watered down the recommendations of the Macpherson report into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in 1993.

The Metropolitan Police even wants to abandon that report’s target for increasing the proportion of black and ethnic minority officers. And when government ministers pander to scapegoating they undermine even the limited anti-racist measures they do put on paper.

We believe that everyone benefits from a multicultural society based on mutual respect. Defending that requires an uncompromising struggle against racism and discrimination.

RESPECT CALLS FOR:

> Racists to be purged from the police and prison services. Support measures to make the police accountable to the community.

> Justice for all those who have been killed in custody.

> A complete overhaul of the criminal justice system to end discrimination.

> Urgent action to address the underachievement of black children and others in schools.

> Tougher penalties for employers who discriminate.

> Restoring the Commission for Racial Equality as a specific race watchdog.
 

News and articles of interest

Here are some articles and news reports we think are worth looking at

From Triumph to Torture by John Pilger
Two weeks ago, I presented a young Palestinian, Mohammed Omer, with the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism. Awarded in memory of the great US war correspondent, the prize goes to journalists who expose establishment propaganda, or "official drivel", as Gellhorn called it.

SATs school tests criticised by official report by Harvey Thompson and Linda Slattery
In May, millions of school children throughout England undertook their Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs) in English, mathematics and science. The statutory tests are widely considered to be flawed and almost universally reviled by teachers and children alike.

Health: Who asked for choice? - Morning Star
IF Health Minister Ben Bradshaw believes that there is political capital to be made by taking on our NHS doctors, he will quickly come unstuck.

Afghanistan troop deaths outnumber those in Iraq by Angela Balakrishnan and agencies
Militants in Afghanistan killed more US and Nato troops than those in Iraq in June after a fresh spate of rebel attacks that highlighted the growing strength of the Taliban.

Iran legally entitled to develop nuclear energy, says UK MP
Iran is legally entitled to develop nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, according to a British MP visiting Tehran for the first time. George Galloway, who was expelled from Britain's ruling Labor Party for his outspoken opposition to the Iraq war, also criticized the hypocrisy of Israel's belligerence towards Iran, which has its own illegal stockpile of nuclear weapons.

In the Cause of Fear and Ignorance by John Pilger
Muslims are alone as they watch the British state, with its "obstinate incomprehension" of their faith, do to them as it would never do to those of other faiths. Imagine Jews treated this way. You cannot imagine it; the profanity is too great. The silence of British Jews, who have the history, is also great.

Migrant Myths by Adam Ford
As part of her degree course, Kurdish migrant Filiz Celik researched the conditions that workers from overseas face in the United Kingdom. The full text of her study can be read here, but this summary by Adam Ford gives some idea of the reality behind the media-generated myths.

Tesco shareholders reject TV chef's chicken welfare call
Tesco shareholders today voted against a resolution from TV cook Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall which called for the retail giant to improve its chicken-rearing standards.

Academies expelled 10,000 pupils
Academies have been accused of excluding disproportionately high numbers of students after it emerged that they excluded nearly 10,000 pupils for poor behaviour last year.

Let companies run state schools for profit, says Sir Simon Milton
Private companies should be allowed to run state schools at a profit and be free to dismiss teachers who are not up to the job, the head of the Local Government Association (LGA) said yesterday.

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