A LACK of ethnic representation in local government is “perpetuating racial inequality and disadvantage” in the UK, according to a new report.
The report, by Manchester University academics Professor Maria Sobolewska and Dr Neema Begum highlights the scale of under-representation in councils, which have greater immediate power and control over resources in the country’s towns and cities.
Data, published in the report and shared with Sky News, found that only 7% of all UK councillors are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) background, despite making up 14% of the country’s population.
The research showed that large metropolitan councils – home to some of the UK’s largest BAME populations – are more likely to be more diverse.
Under-represented
However even many of these under-represent the communities who live there.
For example only 13% of Westminster councillors are from a minority ethnic background, compared with 38% of the population.
There are areas where BAME people are over-represented in local government, such as Hounslow, Slough and Oldham, but this is rare – and that’s played a key role in long-standing inequalities.
The report says under-representation at this level – where decisions are made on where money is spent – “creates a potential for perpetuating and reinforcing racial inequality and disadvantage”.
Professor Sobolewska told Sky News: “If communities are excluded from that decision process, they have much less say over crucial decisions like quality of life things, such as transport, planning and education.
Disadvantage
“I genuinely believe it perpetuates a lot of the racial disadvantages that we are talking about now because of the Black Lives Matter movement and COVID-19 having a disproportionate effect on the BAME communities, partly that is within the remit of local government.”
Lord Simon Woolley from Operation Black Vote, which has been campaigning for greater representation in politics for 25 years, told Sky News: “I hope this is a wake-up call because right now communities feel like these institutions don’t belong to us, our voices are not heard.
Community cohesion
“What we have to understand is at a local level you can really drill down into some of the inequalities.”
He added: “Some of the critical decisions about local communities are dealt with at a local level – education, housing health – all of these factors bring our communities together for community cohesion. If you do not have representative democracy at a local level, these issues are not equitably dealt with.”
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The report, by Manchester University academics Professor Maria Sobolewska and Dr. Neema Begum, highlight the scale of under-representation in councils, which “perpetuating racial inequality and disadvantage.”
However, in urban areas, simply having more Labour thinking Left-wing local Elected Councillors is not the solution to prevent colour discrimination and racism.
When African-skinned people join political parties, they are Elected and Whipped to serve the political aims; thinking, and slogans of the political parties.
They are not free to speak against political and institutional colour discrimination and racism.
Look at the exclusion rates for African skinned pupils in London. London has both Elected Councillors and Rt Hon MPs of African and Caribbean heritage. Despite this LITTLE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED TO STOP THE FRIGHTENINGLY HIGH LEVELS OF PUPILS FROM African heritage from being expelled from schools.
England’s African-skinned people require their own political party as the only solution to defeating colour discrimination and racism.
Less than 2% are actually African and Caribbean and less than 0.2% are under 30. You need to discount Asian representation and tell the story as it is. The scandal of the dearth, near extinction of Africa and Caribbean councillors.