Corbyn’s White Saviour blunder shouldn’t be taken out of context, Labour is still the party for BAME voters

Last week saw an awkward moment in the campaign when Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the UK Labour party, tweeted an image that stated, “Only Labour can be trusted to unlock the talent of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic People who have been held back by the Conservatives”. Though this is reminiscent of the all too well known white saviour attitude and is not helped by the juxtaposition of Corbyn’s Santa clause-esque face, the message that Labour will deliver for BAME communities still stands.

The comment was made at the launch of Labour’s Race and Faith manifesto, that seeks to “right the wrongs against those who continue to be treated unfairly due to their race, ethnicity and faith” which doesn’t sound bad to me. The Race and Faith manifesto is separated into 5 short sections: Unlocking Potential, Brexit and Human Rights, Stronger, safer and Cohesive Communities, Better Representation in Public Life and A Public Sector, Policy and judiciary that works for all.

Contrary to the fatuous groans of Conservative Party MPs, unlocking the potential of BAME communities does not refer them being too lazy, unambitious or unskilled to do it themselves, it brings attention to the fact that there are deep-rooted institutional factors that contribute to the lower socio-economic positioning of BAME communities. Props where props are due, at least Corbyn is brave enough to use his platform and address the huge elephant in the room when it comes to racism in Britain, it exists and it is insidious. Part of this unlocking requires an in depth understanding of how cradle to grave government policy can help to ensure that BAME talent is neither wasted nor held back.

People from BAME backgrounds are much more likely to be in poverty than their white counterparts, this sets the basis for many of the long-term issues and disadvantages that plague BAME communities. Labour seeks to challenge this through the introduction of a £10 Real Living Wage by 2020. This policy will give more than five and a half million people a pay rise and lift many out of persistent poverty. Though this will be gradually rolled out there are additional measures that tackle this long term inequality.

A Labour government will ease financial pressure on BAME parents through the extension of 30-hours a week free childcare and free school meals for all primary school children. In addition to this, the reintroduction of Educational Maintenance Allowance allows students to receive additional, much needed support and contributes to the reduction of child poverty. These policies are incredibly important as one of the biggest factors in the educational attainment gap is family income. By tackling child poverty the government inadvertently increases the likely hood of academic success for disadvantaged students and gives them a better start out in life. The most popular policy, to scrap tuition fees and reintroduce maintenance grants, will also further benefit those from BAME communities, but this is not the only way that Labour’s education and work will help.

Unlocking this talent and allowing for social mobility is possible through Labour’s acknowledgement of workplace inequality that inhibits the progress of the BAME work force. A Labour government will ensure that apprenticeship hosts are set targets to increase accessibility for those from marginalised groups and communities as well as ring-fencing £440 million levy to help companies host apprentices. Under a Labour government, BAME workers will feel confident in speaking up and addressing work place issues by strengthening trade unions, adopting the Parker review and reversing tribunal fees that prevent many BAME workers from perusing their concerns. As well as this, the implementation of a name-blind recruitment process due to racist hiring practices will increase BAME employment, when qualifications and experience are controlled for Andy is more likely to get the job than Afolabi. The manifesto also references the Baroness McGregor-Smith review which states that an ‘Increase in BME workplace progression could give UK economy a £24bn boost’. For too long we have been fed the tired narrative that Labour is anti-business, they’re not, they’re anti-corruption. Why is it we seek to question the motives of a government that wants to dismantle corrupt and exploitative systems but we’re complicit in the growing levels of poverty in BAME communities due to savage austerity measures?

Racism in society is further reflected in the way that landlords discriminate against BAME tenants and it is BAME individuals that often end up living in the worst housing conditions and suffering long-term because of it. Labour seeks to establish a Department of Housing that specifically tackles this crises with a focus on housing conditions and discrimination. Beyond housing, the criminal justice system is another institution in which racism leads to a negative result for BAME individuals. David Lammy, the Labour MP for Tottenham, conducted a thorough review of the Criminal Justice system and found that 51% of people from BAME backgrounds believe that they are more likely to be discriminated against and rightly so, with stop and search rates and custody deaths excessively high amongst Black and Asian communities this feeling is a reality. Labour wants to bring an end to the racial injustices and reoffending rates by implementing the suggestions of the Lammy review and delivering proper policing by consent.

Despite all that Labour has pledged directly to ethnic minority communities, rather unsurprisingly, Conservative MPs took this as an opportunity rip into Corbyn, portraying him as some sort of white slave-owner. Not only was this incredibly insulting to the BAME MPs that have worked hard to ensure that this manifesto benefited their communities, but it also insults the many BAME Labour supporters who have stuck by both Corbyn and the party and likens them to powerless slaves. This says a lot about the way the Conservative Party values ethnic minority communities. Though this should come as no surprise, seeing as the Conservative party has a notorious history of racism which includes discriminating and taunting their own candidates to the point at which they feel singled out and unwelcome.

Your vote is an incredibly important way to exercise your voice, we see the way that BAME communities have suffered immensely under the austerity and inconsideration of Conservative governments. Do not be fooled by the Strong and Stable rhetoric. This by any means necessary, profit-seeking government does not have the needs of marginalised groups at heart.

Do the right thing this election and Vote Labour!

You can read the Labour manifesto here and the Race and Faith manifesto here