• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

PM accused of ‘culture war’ over role of aide in racial disparity commission

Munira Mirza was reported to have been leading the work to set up Boris Johnson’s new commission.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2020-06-16 11:22
in Politics
Credit; House of Commons/PA Wire

Credit; House of Commons/PA Wire

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Boris Johnson has been accused of waging a “culture war” by Labour after reports his new commission on racial inequalities is being set up by a No 10 aide who has cast doubt on the existence of institutional racism.

The Prime Minister announced the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities after a series of anti-racism protests on British streets triggered by the death in the US of George Floyd while in police custody.

The Guardian reported that Mr Johnson’s adviser Munira Mirza – who has hit out at the “culture of grievance” among anti-racism campaigners – has been heavily involved in setting up the commission.

Lammy

The involvement of Ms Mirza, the head of the No 10 policy unit, was condemned by shadow justice secretary David Lammy.

This further undermines @BorisJohnson’s race commission.

My review was welcomed by all parties: Corbyn, Cameron and May. But Munira Mirza went out of her way to attack it.

Johnson isn’t listening to #BlackLivesMatter. He’s trying to wage a culture war.https://t.co/bNrpHgrN6v

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 15, 2020

The senior Labour MP, who led a review of the treatment of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups in the justice system for the Tory government under David Cameron and Theresa May, said Ms Mirza’s involvement “further undermines” Mr Johnson’s commission.

He said: “My review was welcomed by all parties: (Jeremy) Corbyn, Cameron and May.

“But Munira Mirza went out of her way to attack it.”

Mr Lammy accused the Prime Minister of not listening to the Black Lives Matter campaign, and instead claimed “he’s trying to wage a culture war”.

Ms Mirza, who served as one of Mr Johnson’s deputy mayors while he ran London, used an article on the Spiked website to criticise the Lammy review in September 2017.

RelatedPosts

Labour now ‘at risk of LOSING votes’ for supporting Brexit

Westminster has become a ‘hotbed of sexual misconduct’

Former Tory chairman says the party has been taken over by ‘flat earthers’

WATCH: Jack Monroe says we’re in a ‘Cost of Conservatives’ crisis

She said Mr Lammy implied BAME people did not trust the justice system because of “institutional bias and discrimination”.

Public trust

Ms Mirza wrote: “Certainly there is a historic legacy here from previous decades, but it is equally possible that the current accusations of institutional racism by lobbyists and activists – a perception more than a reality – is behind the further corrosion of public trust.”

In a Sun article that month, she said: “By appeasing the anti-racism lobby and affirming its culture of grievance, public institutions and business leaders are not making Britain a fairer place but harming the very people they aspire to help.”

Mr Johnson has defended his commission, following criticism that action rather than another review was needed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The Prime Minister, who also faced a backlash for saying he wanted to stop the “sense of” victimisation and discrimination, later acknowledged that racism “unquestionably” existed in the UK.

He told reporters in Downing Street: “The whole point of having a review is to look at the areas where people feel there’s more that needs to be done.

“I think what we want to do is learn now very fast what fresh changes we need to make.

“What I feel most strongly is that there are so many positive stories that are not being heard.

“Things really are changing. You’re seeing young black kids now doing better in some of the most difficult subjects in school than they were ever before, more going to top universities.

“We need to start telling that story and building up a culture of high expectations, a narrative about success, as well as stamping out the racism and the discrimination that unquestionably exists.”

Downing Street said the review would also examine poor educational outcomes for white working-class boys.

The new commission will report directly to Mr Johnson and also be overseen by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch.

Related – PMQs – Black lives matter but not as much as fat cats getting fatter

Content Protection by DMCA.com
Tags: headline

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending

Elevenses: The Thing About Wrexham’s Cinderella Story

Elevenses: Exposing the Tories’ Deepfake Illegal Immigration Bill

Elevenses: Rishi’s Finest Hour

More from TLE

Video – Experienced farrier caught on CCTV launching vicious attack on horse has been struck off

Beer of the Week: Mikkeller Hallo Ich Bin Raspberry Berliner

How to Make: Yatai’s Hakata Ramen Katsu Sando

Uproar as residents fell trees on railway line to improve view from back of their homes

Mad Mods and a Camera – Creating a Scene on Carnaby Street

Pork Pie Putsch: The 2019 Tories plotting to take down Boris Johnson

Panama Papers: Huge Leak Exposes Super Rich, Celebrities, Politicians and Governing Bodies

#Porngate MP named and has whip suspended

Matt Hancock effigy contender for ‘village scarecrow of the year’

‘Let them do PMQs!’: School kids give Liz Truss a grilling

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.