Former government adviser: Boris Johnson has ‘zero plans’ to confront racism
As the ruling Conservative Party tries to recover from its latest Islamophobia scandal, a former government race adviser has accused the Prime Minister of demonstrating “no initiatives” to tackle “deep” racial inequalities in the UK.
Lord Simon Woolley, a former advisory chair of the Race Disparity Unit (RDU), claims Boris Johnson aspires to “change the race narrative” as opposed to effecting “actual change” to the country’s fraught race dynamics.
Talking to the Independent (October 10), Woolley identified three policy initiatives – addressing low ethnic minority pay in the workplace, tackling low minority in higher education and recruiting 30,000 more black teachers – which are “gathering dust” as a result of the PM’s inaction.
Woolley, who is also the founder of Operation Black Vote, complains about the new Race Disparity Commission (RDC – which replaced the old RDU under Wooley’s leadership) and raises the alarm over its leader, Tony Sewell, who has controversially dismissed evidence of institutional racism as “flimsy”.
Sewell is an ally of Johnson dating back to the PM’s tenure as the mayor of London (2008-2016).
The RDC was hastily established in the summer when the government was under extreme pressure to respond to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and protests sweeping across London and other major British cities.
“Many duly worry whether or not the Commission [RDC] believes the depth and breadth of racial inequality in the UK exists? If they don’t really believe in it, who is going to drive through the needed changes?", Woolley complained.
Six months of rallies in London: Thousands call for Gaza ceasefire
Pro-Palestine activists paint UK Labour Party office red
20% of teachers in England physically assaulted by students in 2023: Study
Iran, China discuss military cooperation
Sanders to Netanyahu: 'Don’t insult American people’s intelligence'
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
China describes Iran as ‘strategic partner' in West Asia
April 25: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
