31Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government must not use race report as an excuse for shameful inaction

Government must not use race report as an excuse for shameful inaction

Parliamentary news
Responding to the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, published today, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Equalities Wera Hobhouse MP commented: “As the Black Lives Matter protests highlighted so powerfully, too many people’s lives both in the UK and across the world are blighted by discrimination, inequality and injustice. It is unacceptable. “There is still so much to do to tackle racial injustice in our country, from the shocking number of Black and Asian children in poverty, to the over-representation of Black and mixed-race people in prison, to the courts and corporate boards still dominated by white people, to the disproportionate impact of Covid on ethnic minority communities. “Conservative Ministers must not use this report as an excuse to continue their shameful inaction on these issues. They should…
Read More
15Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Disproportionate Covid impact highlights need for Race Equality Strategy

Disproportionate Covid impact highlights need for Race Equality Strategy

Parliamentary news
Responding to new report from the Office for National Statistics on ‘Coronavirus and the social impacts on different ethnic groups in the UK’, Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: “The pandemic is taking an enormous toll on families across the UK, and disproportionately so on many Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. “We have already seen that Black and Asian people are at greater risk of dying from Covid, but today’s report highlights that the pandemic is also hurting some communities more than others both financially and in terms of mental health. “We need real action to tackle deep-seated inequalities and injustices. Ministers must work together with all communities to implement a proper Race Equality Strategy without further delay, so we can build a fairer, more equal society as…
Read More
22Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Mark Windrush Day by giving the right to remain to all NHS workers, Lib Dems say

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats are marking Windrush Day by renewing calls on the Government to give all NHS and social care workers who have worked in the UK during the coronavirus pandemic indefinite leave to remain. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine urged Ministers to make clear by backing these calls that “those who have put their lives at risk for our country are welcome to live in it.” The Royal College of Nursing are also calling for reform, citing statistics from the Nursery and Midwifery Council which shows more than 10% of the total registered nursing workforce in the UK come from overseas. Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said: “Thousands of the doctors, nurses and support staff who work in our NHS – the people on the…
Read More
19Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Govt must do more to tackle disproprotionate BAME Covid-19 deaths

Parliamentary news
Responding to analysis from the ONS released today which confirms the risk of death involving COVID-19 among some ethnic groups is significantly higher than that of those of white ethnicity, Liberal Democrats Home Affairs and Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine MP said: “We must do more to tackle the disproprotionate impact of Covid19 on BAME communities. “If the Government is serious about tackling systemic racial inequality then we need more than just a review. We need action. We need an effective Race Equality Strategy. “For a start, BAME communities are far more likely to be working on the frontline in the NHS and social care. Ministers should ensure there is adequate PPE and introduce an additional service payment for each day on the frontline.”
Read More
18Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems call for Race Equality Strategy

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Equalities Spokesperson Christine Jardine has called on the UK Government to introduce a Race Equality Strategy to tackle racial injustice.  Speaking in a debate on the effect of COVID-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities, Christine Jardine said the crisis and the disproportionate effect that the pandemic is having on BAME communities had "shone a stark spotlight" on the issue and added "this must be our time for change." On 14th June, Boris Johnson announced a review into racial inequality in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests. However, further details of the review are yet to be announced. Christine Jardine said this was not enough, stating "what we need now is action". Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat Equalities spokesperson said: “We have reports, reviews and recommendations weighing down the shelves of…
Read More