RUNNYMEDE TRUST RETROSPECTIVE 1968-2018

What has changed in 50 years? Racism, race relations and Runnymede Runnymede BULLETIN Editor’s Contents Dr Omar Khan Director

Dr Zubaida Haque Deputy Director LETTER

Lester Holloway Communications Coordinator

Nina Kelly tarting life as not much more than an Online Editor Sinformation leaflet, the Runnymede Bulletin Kimberly McIntosh has reliably chronicled the successes and Policy Office struggles of the organisation - and the wider 4 ORIGINS OF RUNNYMEDE 15 EXAMINING EDUCATION Carol Sidney UK race equality movement - for the best Office Administrator part of half a century. Dipak Nandy Robin Richardson

Dhelia Snoussi Research Analyst It was my privilege to edit the Runnymede 6 FORMER DIRECTORS’ VIEWS 16 ROAD TO REPRESENTATION Bulletin for almost two years, including Laurie Mompelat Baroness Usha Prashar & Michelynn Kimberly McIntosh & Florence Eshalomi Research & Project Assistant overseeing one of the publication’s reincarnations in 2009. Many of magazine-like design elements that you will see in this retrospective Lafléche Sara El-Harrak 50th anniversary edition date back to that time. 17 Communications Intern SUPERDIVERSITY 8 RACISM AND THE CENSUS Dr Omar Khan & Kimberly McIntosh Runnymede Trust It is both inspiring and humbling to see how many people over the www.runnymedetrust.org years have given over their time, energy, efforts - and in some cases Professor Ludi Simpson their life’s work - to the race equality cause. 18 RACE EQUALITY ACTIVISM AND THE MEDIA 10 REFRAMING IMMIGRATION Lester Holloway The Runnymede Trust, In this retrospective, we look back at the key themes of research and January 2018. Open Dr Ben Gidley access, some rights activism upon which Runnymede has always shone a light. Some reserved, subject to areas - such as the representation of black and minority ethnic (BME) 20 THE CRE the terms of Creative Commons Licence people in parliament, covered by Florence Eshalomi and Kimberly 12 POLICING SINCE THE 1970S Anthony Robinson Deed: Attribution-Non- McIntosh on page 16 - have seen game-changing progress in 50 Sondhya Gupta Commercial-No Derivative years. Others face similar challenges today as they did in 1960s: Works 2.0 UK: England 22 RACE IN SCOTLAND & Wales. You are free to attitudes to migration, for example, which is explored here by Dr Ben copy, distribute, display Gidley on page 10. 14 DIVERSITY IN THE NHS Jatin Haria and perform the work (including translation) Duncan McClean without written permission; Elsewhere, four former Runnymede Directors, Dipak Nandy, 23 DIRECTOR’S COLUMN you must give the original Michelynn Lafléche, Baroness Usha Prashar, and Robin Richardson author credit; you may Dr Omar Khan not use this work for describe the seminal race relations moments that they presided over. commercial purposes; you Everything from the ‘Sus Laws’ to the Equality Act was reported and may not alter, transform, or analysed in the Bulletin. build upon this work. For more information please go to www.creativecommons. Over its lifespan, the Runnymede Bulletin has been a leaflet, org. For purposes other than those covered by this newsletter, something of an academic journal, and a quarterly licence, please contact online magazine. Former Bulletins have become important historical Runnymede. documents, recording the history of race relations in the UK, accompanied, as always, by reliable analysis, insightful comment and Runnymede is the UK’s robust research. leading race equality thinktank. We are a research-led, non-party I also hope readers of this Retrospective Bulletin will enjoy, as I did, political charity working taking a glimpse back at Runnymede’s rich and influential journey. to end racism. A leaf through these pages will show you that the organisation has always occupied a unique space in civil society and race equality Cover Image activism in the UK. Kypros/Getty Images May we always be on the right side of history. Layout & Sub-Editor Lester Holloway

Nina Kelly Editor Photo: (c) Amelia King

2 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 3 The birth of the Runnymede Trust Celebrating our 50th anniversary Dipak Nandy, Runnymede’s first Director, reflects on the origins of the organisation and its first challenges

he Runnymede Trust was born out of the newly formed Runnymede Trust, about to walk into Covent Garden, Tof the inevitable demise of what we from 1968, I had no precedent to picked up a copy of The Times; by had foolishly thought to be our ‘rainbow follow. It was obvious that Runnymede the time he left the area and collected coalition’ in Britain: the Campaign had to be on duty 24 hours a day for another copy of The Times, four against Racial Discrimination (CARD) what is now called ‘instant rebuttal’. I hours or so later, the headline read: in 1967. The idea of an organisation was also sure that we shouldn’t in any ‘Immigration figures disputed’. to do systematically what we had all way purport to speak for the black or been doing piecemeal came about in Asian communities. But I was certain Of course, none of this would have a bone-chilling walk round the grounds that our central task was to do what been possible without the silent and of the Ditchley Foundation, a well- the bloated official bodies weren’t sustained support of Judy Thomas and regarded space for political thinking doing (and maybe couldn’t do). Janet Howden who were receptionists, and policy formation. switchboard operators, company If I contributed anything at all, it was to secretaries, research assistants and The original idea recieved enthusiastic develop and maintain a ‘look-ahead’ much more besides: so vital, so easily backing of the late E.J.B. (Jim) Rose capability. That meant that when I was forgotten. I could not forgive myself and found support from the New charging round the country, chasing if their names slipped silently into World Foundation, in New York, and every invitation to speak, our Deputy oblivion. was matched by the Rowntree Trust Director, Elizabeth Scott, did sterling in Britain. What was this new body service. When one evening Enoch My own recollection of those first five supposed to do? Jim Rose, immersed Powell made another speech about years is one of unending fatigue: always in the journalistic world, wanted to numbers, it was reported without physical and, towards the end, mental influence the press. As the first Director criticism by every paper. Jim Rose, as well. But I think it was worth it. n

unnymede is the UK’s leading race equality and produced evidence to highlight racial inequalities. Rthinktank, founded in 1968. Over the last 50 years, Our focus has covered all areas of society over the years, and in keeping with our initial mission of ‘nailing the lie’ with themes ranging from education, employment and on racism, we have conducted independent research the criminal justice system, to housing and health.

50th Anniversary Appeal

Our 50th anniversary offers an excellent opportunity to reflect on the journey so far, but also to forge theway forward on race equality. We are kickstarting a wider conversation on race in from 2018 and into 2019. Tapping into existing research and evidence, we will explore new ways of communicating with different audiences. We will organise a series ‘50th anniversary activities’, from lectures, talks and conferences to exhibits, youth and cultural events. We want to use our milestone birthday to update our key objective – to provide evidence on race equality – for a 21st century audience. Get involved by donating to our work, participating in our events, or engaging with our research. www.twitter.com/runnymedetrust Cover of Runnymede’s 1983 report Photo: Cover of Runnymede’s

4 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 5 VOX Two former Runnymede Directors on the influence of the Runnymede Bulletin VOX POP POP

Baroness Usha Prashar Michelynn Laflèche

he Runnymede Trust Bulletin was an effective means n the course of Runnymede’s history, the Runnymede to update its existing race discrimination laws. The Bulletin Tof disseminating information in the field of race and IBulletin has been almost certainly its most important provided not only intelligent coverage of this landmark immigration. It recorded developments in policy, analysed publication. Its role, format and content have tended to event but was also able, over the coming years, to offer relevant research, commented on significant events and change with the Trust’s successive Directors, and its most continuous analysis of the progress being made across was a reliable and comprehensive source of information. It recent incarnation as an online blogging platform is entirely Europe. It provided a space for debate and acted as an also monitored how newspapers reported stories on race inline with that evolution. At the start of my tenure in 2000, educational tool, much as now, the online platform Race and immigration. When I was Director of the Runnymede Ros Spry (our editor then) and I took a decision to change Matters is able to reflect thoughtful analysis and important Trust, from 1977 to 1984, journalists on the main broadsheet the Bulletin quite substantially. We decided to move it from a research on race relations in the wake of Brexit. newspapers used to tell me that the Bulletin was a useful 10-issue per year news bulletin to a quarterly with lengthier reference document which they used when writing articles. articles and think pieces, as well as book reviews and And for Runnymede itself, the debates initiated around The Bulletin contributed to Runnymede’s reputation and commentary from opinion formers of the times. This change publication of the Commission on the Future of Multi-ethnic enabled us to make a significant impact on policy and had been precipitated by the change in government a few Britain’s seminal report in October 2000 were successfully practice affecting race equality. Runnymede has made a years earlier, from Tory to Labour. By 2000 there was so sustained, revisited and expanded through the pages of real difference across all areas that impact on the lives of much happening in the race equality space – at Runnymede, the Bulletin in the years that followed. I remain sure that ethnic minority populations. in Britain, and even in the European Union – that we needed progress was made on implementing its recommendations the opportunity for deeper analysis and thoughtful opinion. because of those ongoing discussions in the Bulletin, The police and criminal justice system were probably the For example, in June 2000 the European Race Directive and the Runnymede reports that sprang from them. Over most difficult to penetrate, but two examples stand out from came into being, bringing its basic protections to all my nine years as Director, we covered it all, from shifts my time as Director. First, we had an impact on the use of use member states and accession countries and forcing the UK in discourse from race equality to community cohesion of Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824, otherwise known as and social inclusion to challenges to multiculturalism as the ‘Sus laws’. Through a research report promoted in the a defining framework for understanding our multi-ethnic Bulletin, we effectively argued that this counter-productive society. There were pieces on the progression of equality method of crime prevention in fact only succeeded in law from siloed legislation for race, gender and disability to convincing black youngsters and their parents of the racial the single Equality Act and the single equality commission prejudice present in the police force and the unfairness of that for the first time brought in human rights as well. We the legal system. They were eventually repealed in 1981. analysed the regression of immigration law, which closed The second example of Runnymede-supported progress the doors on many and narrowed the concept of citizenship made in the area of criminal justice was following the death against all the evidence that supported a more open and of anti-racism protester Blair Peach in April 1979. Blair had welcoming approach. Leafing through nine years’ worth of been demonstrating against the National Front in Southall; the Runnymede Bulletin, I see it now as an important record though no individual was ever held responsible for Blair’s of events and change. I hope that it was not only influential death, several of his fellow protesters were arrested and in its day but will serve as an inspiring and comprehensive mistreated. Runnymede asked defence lawyer Robin Photo: Benedict Hilliard archive of the struggle for race equality in the UK, and what Lewis to monitor how the Magistrates Courts handled the can be achieved against the odds with determination. n cases of those arrested and the resulting report, which Scarman Report in 1981, I, as Runnymede’s Director at the highlighted that a large number of the protesters received time, was the first to criticise the report for saying that there criminal convictions for their part in the day’s proceedings, was no institutional racism in British institutions, providing a had quite an impact. The Lord Chancellor’s office ordered critique in the Observer. 50 copies, and this led to some soul-searching among the Magistrates Courts. In contrast to the treatment of the anti- Runnymede has also been influential in many other areas racism protesters, those against whom they protested - that impact on the lives of ethnic minority people, ranging and an unknown number of violent policemen - have so from inner cities, immigration, education, criminal justice, far escaped without prosecution. The report concluded that and equality of opportunity. Runnymede was, and is, listened the difficulties of the Southall defendants and their lawyers to as a voice of reason, because whatever we say is always were in fact everyday problems for Magistrates Courts more based on sound evidence. The well-respected Runnymede generally. Institutional racism is a theme we never shied Bulletin was one of the important vehicles through which we n away from. For example, following the publication of the conveyed our information and analysis. Photo: Benedict Hilliard

6 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 7 Race, Statistics and the Census Race, statistics and the census born residents was already a focus. At this time those born in p11). There were furious debates in the 1980s that are not well Professor Ludi Simpson reviews questions around the Census, as seen the West Indies (Caribbean) were identified as the most clustered represented in the Bulletin. At the time I worked for Bradford through the pages of the Runnymede Bulletin over four decades, and reveals in particular London Boroughs (Bulletin, May 1973). Even in Council’s educational department and organised a conference 1974 when there were estimates made by the government of with Dave Drew on measuring ethnic origin for the purposes how grassroots campaigns originally fought against ethnic monitoring the whole ‘coloured population’. They focused on where people of equal opportunities which attracted a hundred public sector lived, and their sex ratio (there were many more male immigrants colleagues to Sheffield Polytechnic’s Barnsley campus in than females, particularly among those from Pakistan). Only in 1983. Some of the contributions, including my own, met with 1976 could the Bulletin mention two reports on social conditions a concerted Black caucus to oppose any creation of data that of Britain’s ‘coloured populations’, one from detailed analysis was not sanctioned by the individual concerned and destined of the census, and another from a national survey led by David directly for anti-racist purposes, and they demanded that the Smith and published by Political and Economic Planning (April transcript of the conference not be published. I don’t think it 1976). So it had taken a purposeful survey asking individuals’ was. Part of me wishes that today’s technology could have ethnic origin, rather than a census, to reveal details of migration, recorded the conference for posterity. Part of me is glad that housing conditions, employment in order to discuss the origins in it wasn’t. discrimination of the conditions it found. Acceptance Grassroots opposition By 1987, the Bulletin was reporting that new tests were gaining Before the 1971 Census yielded analysis of employment of greater acceptance for an ethnic origin question in the census, different ethnic groups, The Runnymede Trust had had to raise though a significant opposition remained from some West funds for a Census Analysis Project and publish its own reports. Indian respondents in the tests, which also trialled questions The same Trust Bulletin was reporting the government’s tests on religion and language (October 1987). By the end of the on a new census question on ethnic origin – reversing its 1980s, the increasing use of ethnic origin questions in public original declaration of the impossibility of such a question. In sector services as part of policies of equal opportunities, had the discussions about inclusion of a question on ethnic origin encouraged a view of normality about the question. There for the 1981 Census, the Bulletin shows none of its partisan was increasing experience that developed good practice: that support for ‘racial data’ of ten years earlier. It reported neutrally the question used categories acceptable to the vast majority from government testing that “hostility to the questions on of people who were to be offered the choice, and that they ethnic origin was greatest among West Indians and least among would indeed be given the choice rather than someone else ‘indigenous whites’” (September 1978). The Bulletin reported assessing their ethnic origin. Amid pressure from Runnymede opposition from the local Community Relations Officer, and and the Commission for Racial Equality, the government had that Haringey’s Asian Action Group, Labour Movement against satisfied the desire to measure and address discrimination Racism and Fascism, Anti-Nazi League and the United Black and equal opportunities with a question referring to self- Women’s Action Group all advised residents not to compete the adopted ethnic origin. The Bulletin reported the Census White question on the grounds that it implicitly questioned immigrants Paper’s proposals for the 1991 Census, which were subject to rights to be in Britain on the basis of their descent (May 1979). successful testing in April 1989 (September 1988). So the 1991 Later that year, the Bulletin noted another publication against Census became the first in the UK to measure ethnic origin.

Photo: Metro the asking of a question on race in the census, published by The Bulletin pounced on the results released at the beginning the British Society for Responsibility in Science (BSSRS), which of 1993 (February 1993), and began to consider them with a impossible to define it precisely in a way that will work in a census. claimed that the question “could not be of any use to black critical eye. Two years later Robert Moore, who had opposed “Statistics themselves are neutral. What is crucial is what We did not (and will not) attempt it, but used the unequivocal and use is made of them. So long as basic statistics relating people or those fighting racism” (December 1979). their collection for the 1981 Census, analysed the data for to race remain inaccessible, it is impossible to rebut the objective concept of birthplace instead. This leaves you with the Liverpool where the largest ethnic group was of write-in answers exaggerations and the myths, and next to impossible awkward ‘white Indians’ and ‘black Englishman’ but there is no The Bulletin did not report the arguments or context for that did not fit any of the listed categories (April 1995). The to measure what progress towards integration is being practicable way of identifying them in a census.” these views, strongly opposed to its own support for such question has been developed so that it yielded ten categories made. Above all, we cannot expect to have rational and fair a question, but the news item that immediately followed in 1991, sixteen in 2001, and eighteen in 2011, supplemented policies in this field unless the basic facts are established From counting to empowerment gives the clue: another statistics item on ‘sus’ arrests in by information on religion, language, and national identity. Dipak beyond dispute. ‘Racial statistics’ were a contested product of the state. Official London Police Divisions. It was widespread distrust of the Nandy was clear that the ethnic origin data from the census counting confers official status, and offers ammunition for state’s agents, evidenced in examples like ‘Sus’ arrests and was well worthwhile. Writing after the 2001 Census (December “In an ideal world the question of racial statistics would campaigns against discrimination. However, official counting parliamentary discussion of repatriation, that made a census 2003), he reminded the Bulletin’s readers of the context for never arise. But that is not the world we inhabit. What is also hardens the perception of boundaries between people question including categories of colour and family origin Runnymede Trust’s early demand for them 25 years earlier. The more, we cannot get much nearer to it, unless we take according to their appearance, family background and these impossible. The government decided that opposition to an new figures “to give Powell’s blood-curdling prognostications a note of the real problems and use racial statistics, not for ethnic origin question would risk all the other information in the decent burial.” In 1968, Enoch Powell claimed future numbers negative and discriminatory purposes, but for positive, days religion. The first advance results of the 1971 Census were constructive and fair policies.” proclaimed by the Bulletin in December 1972 for showing more 1981 Census, and did not include it. In the 1980s many of of immigrants and their descendants in Britain contributed than a million of England and Wales’ residents were born in those opposed to discrimination also maintained opposition to to “panicking” the Home Secretary into the “shameful” 1968 the New Commonwealth, representing 1 in 50 of all residents. collecting records of ethnic origin, and latched on to the most Commonwealth Immigration Act. Powell’s predictions for the o insisted Runnymede’s first Director Dipak Nandy, on the Almost half of the million lived in London, just over half outside insensitive ways proposed of doing so. The Bulletin reports staff year 2000 have been shown to be exaggerations by the figures Sfront page of the second issue of its monthly Race Relations London, mainly in the urban areas of the West Midlands and at Job Centres walking out in protest at new duties to visually now collected. Whether today’s plethora of ethnic and related Bulletin in June 1969 (an early incarnation of what was later known West Yorkshire. But the promised further analysis was replaced assess and record unemployed claimants’ appearance as statistics really curbs today’s calls to control the ethnicity of as the Runnymede Bulletin). Given Runnymede’s brief to generate by frustrated demands for better statistics, once it was clear ‘African/West Indian’, ‘Asian’ or ‘Europeans, Chinese, Arabs’ Britain through immigration controls is a moot point. My own intelligence, it is hardly surprising that it should demand that the that birthplace excluded the UK-born children of immigrants. (March 1986 pp10-11). Such opposition to ‘ethnic record involvement promoting truths from census statistics to curb government put its resources to the same cause. However, it The figures did include white children of workers in the colonial collection’ was backed by the likes of Paul (now Lord) Boateng nonsense claims of ghettos, white flight and self-segregation may have seemed a difficult battle when the government’s chief administration, substantial numbers of whom were born in India. at Greater London Council, who declared that “the government suggests that the statistics can have some influence on a statistician, John Boreham, had three years earlier written: “It is The analysis in 1973 was therefore limited to the location of would be better advised to creating real jobs and equal job stratum of government and NGO policy staff and practitioners, extremely difficult to define ‘coloured’ precisely at all; and itis people’s birthplace. The uneven spread of New Commonwealth- opportunities for all, regardless of race or colour” (March 1986, but precious little on politicians. n

8 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 9 Reframing immigration Reframing immigration As rhetoric around immigration is as toxic as ever, Dr Ben Gidley outlines in the migrant population’s changing profile in the UK, with as “xeno-racism”: a racism distanced from the old tropes groups such as the Vietnamese “boat people”, Sri Lankan of skin colour and blood. And this xeno-racism was given how the topic has a long record of being misrepresented and misunderstood Tamils, Nigerians and Somalis becoming more significant. respectable cover from the centre-left: with intellectuals, as Ali Rattansi put it in the Bulletin in 2003, “who should While the UK had been a net emigration country for most of be all too aware of the role played by immigrant workers” the modern period (mainly due to the white British diaspora in the creation of the welfare state, foretelling its death in heading to countries such as Australia and Canada), the the absence of ethnic homogeneity. The contradictions of 1980s saw low net immigration became the norm, that this period burst to the surface during the 2010 election curve rising through the 1990s. With migration routes campaigns, at the iconic moment when prime minister connected to the imperial past locked down, restrictionist Gordon Brown was caught on air calling a white working politics were now reflected in laws that whittled away at class Labour voter, Gillian Duffy, “that bigoted woman” for her the right of asylum. Deportations became commonplace; attack on Eastern European migrants. The incident revealed the media increasingly focused on “illegal immigrants” in the gulf separating mainstream opinion from a ‘metropolitan an ever more aggressive language; ‘economic migrant’ elite’ who were relaxed about – and aware of being culturally became a term of abuse. In 1989, for example, the Bulletin and economically enriched by – migration and diversity. The quoted The Sun calling prominent deportee Viraj Mendis tolerant minority and the anti-racist movement had failed to “a lying little pest”. Another dimension of the shifting global publicly articulate the ethic of hospitality we took for granted. cartography in this period was the emergence of what Runnymede called “Fortress Europe”. As Paul Gordon Another migration politics is possible wrote in 1989, Europe was failing to learn from Britain the By making government immigration policy hostage to a lesson that tight immigration controls make internal racism TV soundbite, the net migration promise illustrates the fact respectable: Europe’s stronger external border would mean that, while the topic dominates the headlines, we have that black Europeans would “find their security, already never had a real immigration debate. As Sarah Spencer precarious, increasingly threatened”. With the Yugoslav puts it, we have not stopped to ask the crucial question: wars of the 1990s, Britain once again saw refugees from what is immigration policy for? Meanwhile, the anti-racist within Europe. This moment marked an important shift in movement has been slow to catch up with xeno-racism – the immigration debate. In 1969, as writers such as Paul not least in the face of evidence that members of settled Gilroy have described, immigration panic was often a proxy BME communities often share the anti-migrant sentiments for cultural racism. But in the 1990s, migration from within of the white British population (a point made in the Bulletin formerly ‘white’ Europe meant an increasing racialisation of by Edie Friedman in 1999). The migrant rights movement, the figure of the refugee as such. The image of the ‘bogus on the other hand, has been trapped in a “pro-migration” asylum seeker’ dominated the 1990s’ migration debate posture that defensively mirrors the anti-migration lobby; (especially in the right-wing print media), crystallising a new the debate has been reduced to the assertion of migration’s form of xenophobia which drove increasingly punitive laws benefits to counter talk of its costs and impacts. Questions Allsdare Hickson Photo: Allsdare that made sanctuary harder to find in Britain. remain about whether the concept of integration can, or indeed should be, reclaimed or if it is a form of “new he anti-racist struggle of the 1960s was in part a struggle borders are kept as hard and white as the cliffs of Dover. But in the new century, as refugees were increasingly assimilationism”, as Ali Rattansi described it. Tnot to be migrants: the insistence on being “here to This tradition has frequently resorted to what Runnymede’s turned away, migration continued to rise. The intensification stay”. The Windrush generation fought first for the full rights first Director Dipak Nandy (writing in the Bulletin in 1970 of global turbulence, coinciding with the enlargement of Reframing the debate means acknowledging that migration of citizenship and later for community, for the collective about Powell’s dubious prognostics and obsession with “net the EU and a long economic boom in the UK, meant net is part of the bigger turbulence of globalisation; that like this right to society’s social goods and for cultural recognition. migration”) presciently called “number mysticism”. Thus, migration was no longer in the tens of thousands but now bigger turbulence there are both winners and losers (and The partial victory in the first of these was reflected in restrictive laws in 1968, 1971 and 1972 aimed at limiting in the hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile, a rethinking of that many people are both at the same time); that the pace the series of strong anti-discrimination laws inaugurated immigration from East African Asians seeking sanctuary in citizenship, under the influence of philosopher Bernard of demographic change brought by this turbulence has in 1965 under Home Secretary Roy Jenkins. Jenkins Britain spelled the end of primary migration as the sun set Crick, created new routes to settlement and citizenship. been fast and irrevocable; and that this pace of change understood integration as “not as a flattening process of on Britain’s empire. The East African Asians, who were both A new demographic landscape began to emerge, with raises concerns that are not necessarily “bigoted”. assimilation but as equal opportunity, accompanied by the last major group of (post) colonial citizen-migrants to the multiplication of diversity (“super-diversity”, as Steve Reframing the debate means understanding the trade-offs cultural diversity, in an atmosphere of mutual tolerance”. come to the “mother country” and forced migrants, marked Vertovec called it) in the ‘old contact’ zones of the inner city involved in all our options, listening to the evidence, and being But this official commitment to tolerance and equality within a turning point in Britain’s migration story. – and new zones of encounter in small towns, suburbs and transparent about what’s at stake – the principle of visible the UK was shadowed by the erection of ever stronger rural areas. The economic evidence shows that EU labour social justice. And reframing the debate means thinking borders to keep others out. As Edie Friedman would write New Routes, new communities migration (especially from the new accession states such about integration as dynamic and multi-faceted process in in the Runnymede Bulletin in 1999, “Restricting the entry As the tense stability of the Cold War fractured and the as Poland), and “managed migration” of skilled workers which the public and institutions of receiving societies have of [migrants became] the prerequisite for the achievement turbulence of globalisation intensified, a new age of from outside the EU, was driven by the expanding economy a responsibility – not just migrants – and which is (as the of ‘good race relations’”. In insisting on their recognition as mobility began. The proliferation of failed states, conflict, of this period. Despite this reality, the Labour government Runnymede Trust has insisted since its founding) interlinked black British citizens and not as immigrants, the activists statelessness, displacement and forced migration, continued to play with populist rhetoric: “British jobs for with the patterns of persistent disadvantage which constrain of the Windrush generation rejected Jenkins’ model of especially in the Global South - at a time when the world was British workers” and ever “tougher” asylum rules. The migrants’ opportunities to participate in the various domains n integration as too close to assimilation. But the politics of shrinking due to advances in transport and communication public agenda was set by an increasingly immigration- of social, economic, cultural and political life integration was rejected too from the opposite side, by a technologies - multiplied the global flows of humanity. As obsessed press and an anti-immigration lobby calling for persistent populist voice in British politics that has used the Martin Baldwin-Edwards wrote in the Bulletin in 1992, the a one-in-one-out immigration policy. Politicians sought to immigration card to talk implicitly about race. From Enoch 1980s saw “the previous decade’s immigration trend of appease opinion by inflating the rhetoric further: an arms Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech the year Runnymede family re-unification” (the after-effect of post-war labour race over who could appear “toughest”. Now, rather than was founded (1968) to Thatcher’s “swamping” image, the migration) give way “to a new phenomenon – mass refugee the refugee, it was the figure of the migrant in general that power of Little England nativism has ensured that our island applications”. This shifting global cartography was reflected was increasingly racialised. A. Sivanandan described this

10 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 11 Round up all the usual suspects: Policing since the 1970s Change was inevitable despite police resistance, says Sondhya Gupta, but has it been good enough? search power comes with the requirement of ‘reasonable Ireland, so that for every white recruit one minority ethnic suspicion’, this is often subjectively interpreted by officers officer would be taken on. However, the Police Federation on the beat, and, in effect, stop and search is often used continued to object saying: “Anyone who’s selected should in the same way the sus law was, with discriminatory and be chosen on their capability to do the job. The colour of disproportionate results. their skin, their creed and their background should make no difference whatsoever… [some communities have] Runnymede Bulletin review of a book on police- the time William Whitelaw said: “I recognise the adverse In the same year (1979) as the Southall riot and death of an inbuilt aversion to working as police officers.” One A community relations from 1970 states: “relations effect that operations which involve the questioning of Blair Peach at the hands, widely believed to be the result consequence of communities feeling over policed and between police and [BME] communities has been constant large numbers of people from particular ethnic groups of assault from a Special Patrol Group (SPG) officer, the under protected has been public disturbance and rioting. news in local and national presses” and that “police relations can have on race relations if they are not handled with Met lauded the effectiveness of the SPG and accused From the riots in Brixton, Handsworth, Southall, and have deteriorated”. While the analyses of the causes of the greatest care.” The Runnymede Bulletin reported “conflict between left and right wing extremists over racial Tottenham in the 1980s, through to the riots that occurred friction between the police and black community have at the time that the “procedures used by police and issues” as a cause for the recent public disorders. The in a number of English cities in 2011, the issue of trust in changed over the years, the prescription for the problem immigration service in search of illegal immigrants would the police is raised time and again. has remained remarkably constant. Over the years, report be reviewed.” By the late 70s, centre stage was given to after report made similar recommendations. Indeed, in discussion around ‘sus laws’, which allowed police to stop Year of Institutional Racism summarising its recommendations for stop and search and search people without evidence of a crime. In 1978, 1999 was what the Runnymede Bulletin named “the year of in July 2013, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary the Runnymede Bulletin reported that more than 40% of institutional racism”, following the Macpherson report into (HMIC) noted in its report ‘Stop and Search Powers: Are people arrested by the Met police under sus laws were the mishandling of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. the police using them effectively and fairly?’ that “these black. At the end of the decade, the bill to abolish the A quiet revolution was thought to be underway. In the issues have been the subject of debate for decades”. sus law was due for its second hearing in parliament. The leader article for an issue of the Bulletin during this time, Dr In the 1970s, there was particular concern about the Bulletin reported that 12 community relations officers in Tony Sewell saw this as a “revolt of the new black middle relationship of the police with black teenagers. HMIC also London had told the Catholic Commission for Racial class,” with the Lawrence report exposing “persistent, racist canteen culture in police force nation wide [and] serious lack of skills & professionalism at the heart of our policing.” Another recurring theme in this history of There’s no logical black people’s negative experiences of the police is that of complaints. In 1971, the Metropolitan police report noted “reason to suppose that that “dissatisfaction arises form the fact that the police are seen as acting as judges in their own cause.” By 1982 it the repeal of Sus will was recorded that black people were accounting for an increasing proportion of complaints against the police, but bring about improve- that very few made by black people were upheld.

ments between black Reflecting the community While a Police Complaints Authority was set up following youth and police the recommendation of the Scarman Report into the Brixton riots, the complaints system is still seen by Met Commissioner Sir David McNee,” before the many as part of the institutional racism highlighted by ‘Sus’ laws were repealed the Macpherson report. In 2013, we saw an increase in Photo: Magnum Photos aggressive tactics targeted at ‘illegal immigrants’ with the ‘go home or face arrest’ mobile billboards (or racist vans believed that general improvement in social conditions, Justice that “a serious problem exists between police as they have popularly been called), as well as high-profile and race relations generally, would improve relationships and community relations,” with concern about the way raids by immigration officials accompanied by police. It is with the police. In 1971, a report on the working party in which sus laws were being used against black youth, important to remember the similar rhetoric at the start of on police training in race relations recommended special much the same way that concerns around stop and a decade that saw race riots in many cities, and at a time training, including probationer training so that new recruits search are raised now. In 1980, Runnymede Trust Director of economic recession and a high proportion of young “better understand the nature of prejudice”. However, it Usha (now Baroness) Prashar recommended that the sus black male unemployment. From passport raids and Sus was recognised that there was a need for direct personal law should be abolished. A Runnymede report released tone of the debate had become more bullish with the to stop and search and UKBA raids, the recommendations contact, not just lectures and the importance of leadership at the time argued that this counter-productive method Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police in 1980 have been the same for more than 40 years: training, in this area was emphasised. By 1973, HMIC was of crime prevention and its deployment only succeeded criticising the “race relations industry…black racialists leadership, understanding prejudice, recruitment so that recognising that the problems of the second generation in convincing black youngsters and their parents of racial and revolutionaries and white racialists” for the lack of the police force at all levels reflects the community it were different to those of “immigrant newcomers” and prejudice in the police force. Then, as is often the case now progress. At the same time, the Police Federation voiced polices, and a complaints system that works to serve the advised the police to improve their community liaison in relation to stop and search and other invasive security its concern over the possibility of positive action policies to public not protect the police. It seems that there is still arrangements. The Metropolitan Police reported that measures, the police (in this case Met commissioner Sir increase the number of black officers, saying “it is not the some considerable progress to be made. n “patient and persistent community relations activity….was David McNee) defended the tactic. He said there was function of the police service to integrate racial minorities having an effect.” However, the report seemingly uses the “no logical reason to suppose that the repeal of sus will into the community.” The need for a more diverse and words ‘black’ and ‘immigrant’ interchangeably. In 1980, bring about the dramatic improvements between black representative police force remains a current debate, while there was recognition in parliament that the police taking youth and police.” The sus law was repealed in 1981, with it is recognised that the lack of trust in the police is also a part in ‘passport raids’ alongside immigration officials was the Police and Criminal Evidence Act coming into force reason for low numbers of applicants from certain groups. a cause of significant tension between police and minority in 1984 and forming the basis of stop and search as we There was discussion within the Met Police of the adoption ethnic members of the community. Home Secretary at know it today. While the most commonly used stop and of a model of recruitment similar to that used in Northern

12 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 13 The changing face of the NHS Examining education Duncan MacLean describes the significant contribution of immigrant populations Robin Richardson, a former Runnymede director, looks at race equality in education

the education of children from ethnic minority groups. He had replaced Anthony Rampton, a trustee of Runnymede, who had been appointed by Shirley Williams (now Baroness Williams) in the late 70s and whose interim report West Indian Children in our Schools (1981) had much displeased the government by placing central emphasis on institutional racism in British schools. Swann’s report was a fine piece of work but contained more than 800 pages and had no index. The official summary of it issued by the government was extremely inadequate. Runnymede’s summary was far more accurate and helpful, giving the Swann report the respectful attention it deserved. The Photo: NewsLocker other two long reports summarised by Runnymede to valuable effect t is fitting, given the contribution of and 40% of nurses employed by the patients’ health and the relatively high in the 1980s were Education for immigrants to the running of the NHS were born outside of the UK. incidence of some diseases in BME I Some: the educational and vocational National Health Service (NHS), that BME clinicians are over-represented people compared with white British experiences of young black people by the arrival of one of the most famous in the lower grades of the professions people. The Runnymede Bulletin, John Egglestone (1986) and Murder symbols of immigration, the Empire and under-represented in senior December 2001 reported that Asians in the Playground (1989), also known Windrush on 22 June 1948, occurred managerial positions. Indeed, Snow are 60% more likely to have heart as the Burnage Report. In the 1990’s

less than a fortnight before the opening and Jones found that “fewer than 10% disease than white British people and Photo: Capt. David J. Murphy/Released Runnymede continued its tradition of the very first NHS hospital on 5 July. of NHS senior managers and only five times more likely to have diabetes. of providing resources for direct use Since the Runnymede Trust came 1% of NHS chief executives have a hildren of West Indian parents, the three months later by an editorial by practising teachers. Following the into existence in 1968, there have minority ethnic background.” Articles Empowering largest of all the immigrant groups, article from Runnymede’s first director Education Reform Act in 1988 - which, been a raft of articles written about from the mid-1990s highlight that C Similarly, the King’s Fund found that, have been a source of bafflement, Dipak Nandy about a school in among other things, established the the contribution that immigrants have black nurses reached sister grades in 2000, black African and Caribbean embarrassment and despair in the Wolverhampton where 90 per cent national curriculum - the government made to one of the most famous and up to five years later than White people are five times more likely to education system,” wrote Jim Rose in of the pupils were not white British. produced a guidance document on well-respected healthcare systems in British nurses (Runnymede Bulletin, have high blood pressure. Reasons Colour and Citizenship in 1969. “They “There is no reason,” wrote Nandy, multicultural education across all the world. There is a high proportion Nov 1995), and that this amounted given for this were relatively lower have often presented problems which “why a school with a high proportion of curricular subjects. It decided not to of black and minority ethnic (BME) to losing up to £50,000 in pay over earnings, higher unemployment, and the average teacher is not equipped coloured children should be a second- publish it, however. people in the NHS workforce relative to a career compared to white British less awareness of certain diseases, to understand, let alone overcome.” class school - unless it is allowed to the general population. Linked to this, employees. compared with white British people. Official policy discourse at that time, become so.” He added: “Nothing Informed discussions the lack of recognition for staff from However, an article from Autumn/ Rose showed, was about ‘immigrant succeeds in dispelling irrational fears Runnymede stepped into the breach BME groups in terms of remuneration Cases of bullying and harassment Winter 2012 Runnymede Bulletin children’, also known as ‘coloured in race relations save sane, cool, with its handbook Equality Assurance and promotion compared with white highlighted in several articles may highlights that there is still more to children’, and one of the biggest courageous leadership.” Over the last in Schools (1993), which sold more British people, and a dearth of BME help to explain why this is the case. be done. It is frustrating to read that policy issues for local and national 50 years Runnymede has frequently than 24,000 copies. Runnymede also people in the higher echelons of NHS Two-thirds of black nurses at six the theme of inequality perpetuates in government was how to disperse highlighted ‘sane, cool, courageous made a study of the first 50 Ofsted management. hospitals studied were racially the NHS. The question, now, is what such pupils as widely as possible. leadership’ in the education system, reports, to see the extent to which they harassed, but felt they were not able needs to be done to ensure that this as well as other sectors of society. covered race equality issues. Since The higher rates of certain types of to report this to managers because is addressed properly in the future? Irrational fears 2000 there have been articles in the disease within the BME community their grievances would not be taken Proper targeted funding to raise Reviewing a range of formal and In the 1980s, three of Runnymede’s Bulletin whose titles would have been compared with white British people. seriously. Furthermore, a review into awareness in and empower BME informal evidence, Rose pointed out most notable contributions to readily understood in 1969/70, for In 1971, 33.2% of doctors in England racism in Brent hospitals by the local patients to gain access to proper “there is the problem of prejudice, debates about education came in example one on reducing inequalities and Wales were from overseas. Community Health Council concluded and timely preventative and curative and of the effect of teachers’ the form of clear and convenient in school exclusions (spring 2013), One-eighth of consultants, one- that “racism is institutionalised within medicine would be a start, together expectations upon the children’s summaries of long reports. Written and there has been continuing fifth of senior registrars, three-fifths the service.” It found that black people with a proper review of pathways for progress.” Education has always by the Bulletin’s editorial team, these coverage of Runnymede resources for of registrars, three-fifths of Senior do the “hardest and least rewarding” employee progression, which takes been one of Runnymede’s principal had a substantial influence among teachers, for example Complementing House Officers and 48% of all doctors work. It is no wonder, against this into account the blocks currently in concerns, though a differing focus teachers and parents up and down Teachers (2003) and Young, Muslim, in training grade posts were from backdrop of discrimination and place preventing BME clinicians from at different times. The first issue of the country. The first was a summary Citizen (2009). Nowadays, to recall overseas (data published originally in harassment, that BME workers in being promoted as readily as their the Runnymede Bulletin in May 1969 of the Swann Report, Education for again Jim Rose’s phrase, there is Health Trends, May 1971). Forty years the NHS have not been elevated at a white British colleagues. These would contained a special feature about All, published in 1985. Lord Swann less bafflement, embarrassment and later, data published by Snow and fast rate into management positions. be ambitious and complex steps to education, ability and dispersal in a had been appointed by Mrs Thatcher despair in the education system. But Jones highlighted that 30% of doctors There is interesting data about take, but are clearly necessary. n London borough. This was followed to chair a government committee on there is still much to do. n

14 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 15 The long road to representation Black Britain since Windrush Kimberly McIntosh and Florence Eshalomi look back at the milestones for Dr Omar Khan and Kimberly McIntosh reflect on integration and racism non-white Britons in politics over the past 170 years since the the ‘Windrush’ generation arrived 70 years ago

unnymede was founded two decades Rafter the first large numbers of Caribbean people arrived on Empire Windrush in 1948. Their migrant parents would be experiencing some success, but also continued discrimination in the labour market and beyond. The grandchildren, and indeed great-grandchildren, of those pioneering migrants have now grown up in Britain, contributing enormously to our culture, economy, society and politics. Reading some of the early editions of the Runnymede Bulletin, it’s astonishing to remember the racist fears that

accompanied this migration, whether in Photo: Huffington Post terms of economic competition, cultural dissimilarity or inherent social conflict.

Photo Composite: Collection Images, Photo Composite: Collection Images, Bombay House, Open University Survey after survey shows that black and minority ethnic (BME) Britons today he 2017 election was widely regarded as a triumph election, after which British politics saw a run of 54 years strongly identify with the UK, while the Tfor black and minority ethnic (BME) representation in with an entirely white House of Commons. Jonathan London Olympics was widely recognised public life. There are now 52 BME MPs out of a total of Sayeed, Anglo-Indian decent, won his seat in 1983 and as as celebrating the success of modern 650, working out at around 8% of the population of the such could be considered as the first BME MP of the late multi-ethnic Britain as well as its sporting house. Representation of BME communities in parliament 20th century. However, he prefers to be known as an “MP achievements. Britain’s rivers are not positions across British society, including controversy unfortunately always seems has come a long way, but it is still some way short of the without prefixes”. foaming with blood. Instead, ethnic in management positions. The Parker to be a partner to public debate on what 14% BME population. The past few decades’ lack of minorities win plaudits on the sporting Review, The McGregor-Smith Review our country should look like and be. In decent representation, and the lack of engagement with Second breakthrough field, in Britain’s top laboratories and firms, and the Race Disparity Audit have all addition to a substantially changed public BME communities by the main parties, are issues that the The 1987 general election was a major breakthrough. and on screen, while Notting Hill Carnival shown that we have work to do to get the culture, attitudes to diversity, and some Runnymede Bulletin has examined repeatedly. In 1847 Four BME candidates gain seats in Westminster. Bernie is one of the cultural high points of the year pioneers of the Windrush era and beyond positive outcomes in the labour market, Lionel de Rothschild, a practising Jew, won an election to Grant, Paul Boateng, Diane Abbott (also the first black and Chicken Tikka Masala is consistently the legacy they earned and deserve. this then suggests two other significant take one of the four seats for the City of London. However, female MP) and Keith Vaz all gained seats in what can only cited as a national dish. While they recognise the significant and changes. First, is the much greater due to the convention that MPs should swear an oath on be described as a great step forward towards diversity in notable progress over the decades, they diversity of the ethnic minority population the Bible, he was unable to take his seat. He repeatedly parliament. Mr Vaz and Ms Abbott have held on to their And yet the story is not wholly one of are also deeply concerned about their itself, which in the early years of the stood in by-elections for the same seat to emphasise the seats to this day making them the longest serving Asian success. The 2018 ‘Windrush Scandal’ grandchildren’s prospects. Migrants move Runnymede Bulletin was largely Caribbean validity of his election. Finally, the House of Lords agreed, and black MPs, respectively. Since 1987 British politics has proves that the Home Office itself to give their children a better life, yet that and South Asian, numbered at around 1.5 on the third attempt, to a proposal - the Jewish Relief Act seen a steady increase in the number of BME MPs taking does not respect immigrants’ rights. is not always happening for their children, million in the early 1970s. BME people 1858- which would allow each House to decide its own seats in successive elections. One of the most encouraging Meanwhile, Runnymede research on grandchildren and great-grandchildren. now make up roughly 14% of the total oath for new members. This meant that new MPs of non- signs came in the 2010 General Eleciton, when the number the labour market, and on ageing, have For some groups, of course, the situation population of Britain.Second, and related, Christian faith would be able to take their seat without of BME MPs nearly doubled, growing from 15 to 27. The separately found the continuing effects is much better: increasing numbers is the vastly larger share of UK-born BME swearing on a Bible. greatest increase came from the Conservatives who jumped of discrimination. Not only did older of Indian and Chinese people work in people, around half of the 7.9 million total from two to ten MPs in one election. The 2010 election was BME people experience the impact of the ‘professions’ (such as doctors and (or larger than the total BME population First breakthrough significant for other reasons too. The first female black and lower wages during their working lives lawyers) and the post-war expansion of in 1991). Here, the growth of the more The first candidates from BME communities took their seats Asian Conservatives (Helen Grant and Priti Patel) and the but these effects have accumulated over clerical, managerial and professional jobs than 1.5 million mixed-race Britons is decades later, in the 1890s. Dadabhai Naoroji (pictured left) first female Muslim MPs (Rushanara Ali, Shabana Mahmood time to leave them with fewer savings means that there has been an increase particularly striking, but that is only one was the first Asian MP who took his place in the Commons and Yasmin Qureshi) also made their debut. In fact, the and smaller pensions. Recent evidence in absolute (if not relative) social mobility part of the story. For this increasingly in 1892, followed quickly by Sir Mancherjee Merwanjee election took the number of Muslims in parliament to an shows that the great-grandchildren of for all ethnic minorities over the past five ‘super diverse’ population the differences Bhownagree (centre) in 1885. Both were born and raised all time high of eight. The significant improvement in BME the pioneering immigrants of the 1950s decades. compared to their grandparents’ or great- in British India; Naoroji was a political thinker, writer, representation in recent years, and the number of MPs continue to experience disadvantage in grandparents’ experience may sometimes cotton trader and a supporter of Indian home rule, while taking seats, has not happened in a vacuum. Organisations the labour market. Today, black graduates So looking back, we see significant seem, and are, vast. And yet, while these Bhownagree came to the UK to work as a lawyer and fought such as Operation Black Vote have played a pivotal role in earn on average 23% less than their change but also continuing inequality. changes are indeed significant, reading in parliament to keep India as a part of the empire. Shapurji progressive change. One of the most consistent criticisms white peers. Black and Asian workers There are still a significant number of thorough almost 50 years of Runnymede Dorabji Saklatvala (right), another Indian-born politician and of all parties has been that they are out of touch and that the are also more likely to be in insecure, migrants entering the UK and their publications, including the Bulletin, a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, joined public are unable to relate to their elected representatives. part-time employment and agency work. experiences remain challenging. Hostile reveals the continued challenges we face the Commons in 1922. The number of BME MPs is still out of kilter with the size The unemployment rate for young black rhetoric has always shrouded debates on to ensure that Britain is a successful multi- of the minority ethnic population. This needs correcting men is at 35%, while over half of in-work immigration and identity. From resistance ethnic country. We do not want to see a Following on from these early victories from the Indian if the BME communities are going to be able to feel that Bangladeshis are paid below the living to German Palatine refugees of the 18th fifth generation of ethnic minority people community there was a long lull in BME representation parliament is working for and reflecting them, rather than a wage. Most ethnic minority groups are century to the upsurge in anti-immigrant blighted by the racism faced by their older in parliament. Saklatvala lost his seat in the 1929 general political elite. n underrepresented in the top jobs and sentiment within the Brexit campaign, relatives and ancestors. n

16 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 17 Political activism and the media Political activism and the media Lester Holloway gives his personal reflections on the interlinking journey of in 1996 with the aim of being both a genuinely multicultural communities. more conscious ‘Voice’, offering up The Grenfell fire disaster revealed a anti-racist activism and the black and minority ethnic (BME) media aspiration and hope. Sunrise Radio highly ethnically-mixed neighbourhood and other media competed for the where once it had been the frontline attention of Asian communities. of battles between skinheads and Advertising revenue was on the slide. newly-arrived Caribbean immigrants. Under Ken Livingstone, the first elected Mayor of London, teamed up with Looking ahead Jasper, and boosted grants to many Today, millennials of colour are creating BME groups in the capital. However, a plethora of podcasts, blogs and vlogs much of the anti-racist movement was to communicate their outlook. This new growing middle aged, and increasingly wave of social commentators have a lot dependent on the state to fund it. to say about life, racism, identity and By the millennium the national their personal experiences. Social media mainstream media had got better has enabled campaigns such as Black at picking up stories involving black Lives Matter and #RhodesMustFall and Asian people. The black and to trend worldwide. Information and Asian media’s main purpose became expression is free and instant, without survival. To an extent so was the the need to spend weeks planning a anti-racism movement, but the demo. It is tempting to assume today’s its’ downfall. The late academic two rarely collaborated effectively. Professor Stuart Hall had long argued activists are all ‘clicktivism’ and no real for more attention towards changing While campaigns around police brutality action. That they have forgotten the identities, but activists took little heed. and deaths in custody still had the power history of Black Britain. But that would (c) by Marcus Blaque Photo: (c) by Marcus The mid-80s saw a series of riots or to unite communities, the era of frequent be unfair. Black activism and the black uprisings - from Brixton and Broadwater racist attacks orchestrated by the Far media aren’t dead; they are rapidly hen I was a young boy there be racially abused in the street. West Lord) Boateng, marched on London. Farm in London to Toxteth in Liverpool, Right receded. As fear of assault eased, evolving. Where once the focus was on Wwere two processions that used London has changed considerably over Their slogan, ‘13 dead, nothing said’, Handsworth in Birmingham, and a combination of changing identities, deaths in custody, today the frontline to make their way down the road past the past 50 years, not just as a result not only reflected a desire for justice, Chapeltown in Leeds. Much of it a deepening cultures and growing is tackling negative racial attitudes. our family’s house in west London. of improvements in public attitudes but also disillusionment with the rebellion against racist police use of aspirations among the second and third Back then, in the 1970s, the road was and gentrification, but also as a result mainstream media. Howe once told ‘Sus laws’ and general oppression. generations were making Black Britain If anything is going to make in- a route for carnival floats heading to of grassroots anti-racism campaigning. me that he saw banana skins being Meanwhile, Asians continued to suffer harder to define. Campaigners, and the roads in addressing racial disparities, Notting Hill. It was a joy watching the Media platforms run by, and for, black thrown from windows as they marched racial hostility running convenience BME media, were losing their audience. unchanged for decades, then surely it mas bands pass. Less so watching Britons have also played their part. along Fleet Street, the then home of stores and restaurants. The cases The wind had changed. The then Labour is challenging the biases that underpin a National Front march go by. The And charting their progress provides British newspapers. The demo ended of Asians killed by racists, such government moved away from the ‘race those attitudes. Who is to say that this carnival was the frontline when it came an insight into five decades of activism. in chaos after the police intervened. as Satpal Ram, resulted in justice agenda’, abolishing the Commission for will be less successful than the tactics to the fight for human rights. The ‘skins’ campaigns supported by Black political Racial Equality and merging race with of past generations? A networked- used to attack carnival goers, and the Birthplace By the early 80s there was already a well- movements such as the Anti-Racist other ‘protected characteristics’ in a new up multicultural generation can also whole area was riven with tension. At Notting Hill is the birthplace of the established anti-racist tradition of uniting Alliance, but they were mainly featured all-embracing watchdog, the Equality mobilise quickly when required. the north end of Ladbroke Grove was first major black newspaper in Britain, Asian and African-Caribbeans to fight in the Asian media. After the electoral and Human Rights Commission. In Which begs the question whether the All Saints Road and the famous the West Indian Gazette, which was racism, supported by local campaigns breakthrough in 1987 when Diane 2009, the financial crash strangled the ‘old’ model of campaigning is still Mangrove café, where West Indians founded by Claudia Jones and others and trades unions. The unions had a Abbott, the late Bernie Grant, Keith revenue to the black and Asian media. relevant. Both the BME media and congregated and the police periodically in 1958. Jones also helped found the record of supporting independence Vaz and Boateng were elected, the New Nation collapsed and The Voice anti-racism provided ‘glue’ that united raided. Less than a mile away, closer carnival, which is now Europe’s largest movements in Africa and the Indian Labour Black Sections began to wind downsized. Austerity finished off public oppressed communities. Such glue to Holland Park, was HQ for the street festival. The newspaper and sub-continent from afar. Communism down. As a response activists, led by funding to most campaign groups. is still needed, but perhaps not in the White Defence League and Oswald carnival both share a desire to establish had been widely recognised as an Lee Jasper, set up a series of groups same form. It was inevitable that the Mosley’s Union of Fascists Movement. an immigrant community, now known underlining philosophy in the fight for to take a more sophisticated approach Claudia Jones, the mother of Britain’s old mode of campaigning, forged out as the ‘Windrush generation’, and freedom and dignity. Claudia Jones, to anti-racism. The National Assembly Black media and a political campaigner, of a battle to be listened to, would be In 1959, a black carpenter, Kelso allow them to express themselves and CLR James and George Padmore Against Racism were the street is remembered at Black History rebooted in an era when it is easier to Cochrane, was stabbed to death in the preserve their Caribbean culture freely in were among those who turned to campaigners, The 1990 Trust was the Month events but her legacy has be heard. However, it remains just as area. The Far Right were immediately a hostile, grey country. The Gazette, and Communist politics and philopophy. ‘think tank’, and Operation Black Vote largely been almost washed away. hard to bring about positive change suspected. A year earlier - 50 years ago - later The Voice, which was founded to Arif Ali’s Caribbean Times also was to push for more Black politicians. The more overt racism had largely been that uplifts communities afflicted by the carnival turned into a riot when racist speak for the second generation, shared campaigned with a radical Left mindset. Things were evolving and the battle driven underground but old problems barriers to jobs and opportunities. thugs attacked partygoers. The same news about what was going on in their was to be fought now on many fronts. of unequal racial outcomes remain Leaders or opinion formers can emerge year violence erupted in Nottingham, communities because the mainstream The coming together of people of a significant scar on society. BME in an instant, like transgender model after an argument between an inter- media did not reflect this experience. Caribbean and Asian backgrounds Populist unemployment runs at up to twice the rate and activist Munroe Bergdorf. There racial couple was misinterpreted by under political label ‘Black’ was In the 1990s The Voice eased up of white unemployment, and outcomes are a new generation of academics local white youths. Within hours gangs When a fire claimed the lives of 13 reinforced within the Labour Party. on its campaigning and played it in health and housing are poor. In other and thinkers like Reni Eddo-Lodge, of white men were rampaging through young people in New Cross in 1981, Labour Black Sections, supported safe to protect advertising revenue. ways, things have changed dramatically. Afua Hirsch and Kehinde Andrews. The the streets hunting black residents who suspicion fell on neo-Nazis who were by Militant, battled to achieve Black More populist stories caused it to be A rapidly growing BME population past 50 years that can help inform the fought back. I remember an Asian family known for attacks in the area. A new representation in Westminster. ‘Black’ labelled ‘the black Sun’. New black has transformed many working class future struggle for race equality, but who lived close by got a brick through generation of political activists, led by political unity was riding high, but and ethnic minority (BME) media began areas of Britain, like the estate I grew what form the struggle takes will feel their window. My sister and I would the late Darcus Howe and Paul (now forces were at work that would spell springing up. New Nation launched up in, from hostile environments to very different from those of the past. n

18 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 19 Still a lot left to do Still a lot left to do Anthony Robinson remembers the work of the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) and reflects on the equalities watchdog (EHRC) that replaced it

and isolation. Extremism, both political and religious, is on the rise as people become disillusioned and disconnected from each other. Issues of identity have a new prominence in our social landscape and have a profound impact upon race relations in Britain.

Reading through Runnymede Bulletins, I am reminded of the brutality being perpetrated by the assorted Right-wing fanatics who thought a good night out involved bashing the life out of people, and the frequency of black deaths at the hands of the police and officials of the prison services. The sheer inhumanity highlighted by bulletins past suggests (c) Cargo Collective that this must rank as one of the most

shameful periods in British history, at Image: least as far as its activities on home soil are concerned. But having a confidence that history is on their side. that fell within the EHRC’s mandate. for him, Lord Ouseley launched a statutory body that had an obligation Of course, the issue of the Furthermore the EHRC was ‘arrivist’ blistering attack on Michael Howard and an interest in dealing with those disproportionate stop and search of in its ethos. It saw itself as completely for planning to drastically reduce the issues made a real difference to the BME people has not gone away; that new and, as a result, could have CRE’s budget, and for public attacks. people subjected to this inhumanity. it remains in the public consciousness, been seen as disregarding all the In the end, the government felt too however, is in part due to the CRE and good work that went before it. The politically embarrassed to proceed (c) National Archives Several editions of the Bulletin referred others’ groundwork trying to tackle it. major focus of the organisation during with the planned spending cuts. to the issue of virginity-testing at this period was on developing its

Image: airports, which was an issue that was Strength policy on being a ‘modern regulator’. The government was also emboldened taken up by the CRE. One cannot The staff of the CRE were some of the The CRE was unique among the in its assault on the EHRC and set imagine the humiliation and the most passionate and committed I‘ve legacy commissions that made up about criticising it at every juncture, Lot Done, A Lot to Do: Our Vision perpetual inequality and exclusion.” violation of young Asian women as worked with. Most of my colleagues the constituent parts of the newly reduced its budget from £70m to a A for an Integrated Britain’ is the Looking through decades worth officials subjected them to intimate came to work because they wanted formed EHRC, in that it frequently core budget of just £17m in 2013/14 ‘title of a booklet published by the of Runnymede Bulletin archives, gynaecological examination so as to take an active part in the struggle had to square up to the government and reduced staffing from 660 in Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) replete as they are with references to challenge their right to join their against racism. One of the CRE’s on issues of extreme political and 2008 to just under 200 by 2013. in 2007, shortly before its closure, and to the CRE, it is apparent that the prospective husbands in Britain. The strengths was the diversity of its social sensitivity. Unlike disability or While the EHRC’s has made impact on the eve of the Equality and Human organisation had a tremendous impact. March 1979 Bulletin reported thus: staff. It had BME representation at gender, for example, race equality on newer protected characteristics Rights Commission (EHRC) coming When the CRE commented “Long after Asian women were senior levels who brought with them is fought for in the most highly and on gender, it has not achieved into being. The booklet described the politicians, local and public being subjected to virginity testing, their personal experiences of many politicised arenas: crime, immigration nearly as much in terms of race. barriers and disadvantages that black authorities, business leaders and interviews demanding intimate of the injustices the organisation and public services. The CRE had Though it must be said that the and minority ethnic (BME) people communities stopped to listen. details of their relationships with their was trying to combat. Another to stand up to politicians, extremists EHRC continued the work started were facing in society and set out the The CRE booklet pointed out that: prospective husbands continued to significant strength of the CRE was and the general public on such by the CRE on stop and search. challenges on the horizon facing the “Only a few decades ago, it was humiliate and degrade”. Runnymede that it had good links in communities issues. Chairs, commissioners and More recently, David Isaacs, Chair of new organisation, which amalgamated acceptable to put up a sign in a Bulletin articles illustrate how the through its regional offices and staff occasionally put their safety the EHRC since 2016, has spoken up many ‘protected characteristics’ - boarding house or B&B saying “No CRE was not frightened to oppose local Racial Equality Councils. at risk and would regularly receive on the organisation’s 10th anniversary such as gender, disability and race - blacks, no Irish, no dogs”. We don’t the government and to campaign The expertise and passion that threatening letters; some regional staff to warn of Britain becoming a into one ‘equalities watchdog’. A Lot see those signs anymore, thanks politically on this and other issues. CRE staff brought to their work was received frequent physical threats. “world embarrassment,” with justice Done was a brilliant piece of work that to the race relations legislation that Battles against the Sus laws and the largely lost in the setting up of the The references in the past editions of open only to the wealthy, should deserves revisiting by anyone who is made them illegal as well as thirty fight for justice by Stephen Lawrence’s EHRC, as a significant proportion Runnymede Bulletin the battles that the EHRC not be given the power interested in understanding historic and years of hard work by the Commission family are all chronicled in editions of left the organisation. Meanwhile the Lord Ouseley, former Chief Executive to enforce equalities legislation. contemporary issues to do with race. for Racial Equality and others in the Runnymede Bulletin. It is important EHRC’s approach was to consciously of the CRE, had with government My hope is that the EHRC will As the booklet put it: “The CRE might changing the national mindset to to have written records to illustrate seek to recruit people who were not reminds me of one particular story. continue to fight for justice – be leaving the stage, but our work make them morally inconceivable. what a coordinated and sophisticated drawn from the old guard of ‘equality Lord Ouseley once shared a platform including race equality - and a must go on. To ignore the challenges However Britain, despite its status as campaign of protest, lobbying and warriors’. This meant that many with then Home Secretary Michael society at ease with diversity, contained within this document is the fifth largest economy in the world, political engagement can achieve if new people had little or no previous Howard and confronted him. Throwing embracing equality of opportunity to condemn future generations to is still a place of inequality, exclusion pursued with determination and the experience of working on the issues away the script that was prepared and committed to social justice. n

20 | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | www.runnymedetrust.org www.runnymedetrust.org | RUNNYMEDE BULLETIN | 21 A VIEW FROM SCOTLAND Director’s COLUMN Jatin Haria of the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights questions how much progress has been made on race in Scotland Dr Omar Khan reflects on five decades of Runnymede “ n independent Scotland will have at Aits heart the respect, protection and and race equality. promotion of equality and human rights.” So claimed the Scottish Government in a White Paper on Scottish independence in 2013, a year before the referendum. It states that “equality and human rights should be embedded unnymede was founded to ‘nail of more formal institutions, while at facts snappier or more visual (charts in a written constitution”. This reinforces Rthe lie’ on racism. Runnymede’s the same time there is great demand and graphics) so they can be more the perceived notion that Scotland has focus was on providing an and focus on race equality that is easily understood and shared. Facts a strong history in protecting the rights appropriate evidence base to improve organising in new and surprising and evidence must also be nested in a and freedoms of everyone living in the policymaking and public debate on ways. While Runnymede has not wider narrative, explaining clearly how country. The Scottish Government has race in Britain, and so to improve typically focused directly on organising racial inequality stems from injustice, certainly taken this approach in the the lives of black and minority ethnic or campaigning, we have sought to using human stories to illustrate facts. language it uses around national identity people living here. Over the past five learn from, and work with, those who While civil society has been crucial, and ethnicity, stressing the value of decades Runnymede has published have. Runnymede has always sought government legislation and policy has diverse communities working together hundreds of reports and briefings. to adopt a principled equality and of course been important, including for Scotland’s future. This evidence has influenced policy human rights perspective. A second race relations and equality legislation. and debate, from the Ugandan Asian challenge must be acknowledged: Rhetoric vs. reality ‘crisis’ to Race Relations legislation; that the principled equality position In fact it’s worth remembering the role One of the key reasons given for a ‘no the Commission on the Future of has fractured somewhat, both within of somewhat forgotten influencers problem here’ attitude is the relatively Multi-ethnic Britain; through to subject the race equality movement (where such as Learie Constantine (in the low number of black and minority areas like education, employment, groups sometimes organise on the case of Constantine v. Imperial Hotel), ethnic people (BME) in Scotland. The criminal justice, housing, health, and basis of their ethno-cultural group), Fenner (later Lord) Brockway MP small number was probably true a immigration. It is a privilege to carry and also across the equality and (who introduced race discrimination decade or two ago – the 1991 census on this legacy, built by dedicated staff, legislation every year from the 1950s), showed a BME population of just trustees, previous directors, and our and the Society of Labour Lawyers, 1.25%, rising to just 2% in the 2001 many supporters. To the extent that whose work ultimately influenced the Census. However, the 2011 Census NASA/GSFC Image: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, “attitudes and outcomes on 1965, 1968 and 1976 Race Relations now records a BME population of 4% arious challenges remain for race equality have improved Acts passed by Labour governments. overall, with cities such as Glasgow Scotland – of that I’m sure.” One key in securing more robust specific public VRunnymede to achieve its aims. over the past five decades, There is still little public understanding recording BME populations of 12%, factor that allows situations such as sector equality duties. The revised First, that social change requires a of the extent and persistence of and Aberdeen 8%. Indeed the BME these to continue is the lack of pressure duties came into force in May 2012 and wide and deep coalition. In the case anti-racist organising has racial inequalities, and how far population of Glasgow is now similar on public bodies and others to take real explicitly requires all listed public bodies of race equality, this means that black played a hugely important racial discrimination explains these to that of the UK average and higher meaningful action to achieve change. to publish reports on the progress they people had to organise and challenge role. inequalities in 2018 in Britain. than that of cities such as Liverpool. But have made to mainstream the general the racism and discrimination they numbers are not the whole story. The Public sector equality duty into their work, to publish face. At least since the end of the ” Reflecting then on 50 years since Institute of Race Relation’s Factfile on In public sector employment with equality outcomes and to undertake late 18th century Africans organised human rights field – e.g. conflicts Runnymede’s founding and on the the Racially Motivated Murders (Known just 2.1% of staff declaring a BME equality impact assessments. However, to combat racism, including the early between race and gender or sexual current moment, there are clearly or Suspected) from 2000 onwards lists background. This figure drops to just research by the Equality and Human abolitionist Sons of Africa and the orientation and religion. Of course opportunities to learn form the past 10 people from Scotland, out of 80 in 0.8% in local authorities, and just 0.7% Rights Commission (Scotland), looking League of Coloured Peoples formed there have been strong intellectual, to better tackle racial inequalities in total. Many of these have had little if in Scotland’s fire and rescue services (all at the quality of equality outcomes set in 1931. By the 1950s and 60s this organisational and policy responses to the present. While evidence alone any media interest, and are too often figures from 2011/12). More worryingly, by Scotland’s public bodies, concluded tradition of self-organising, connected this increasing diversity among equality isn’t enough, we know that it is one seen as one-off incidents rather than a although figures are now showing that that 29% of public authorities had with wider international and anti- and human rights organisations, of the most important tools we have broader reflection on Scottish society. around 12% of all applicants for public set ‘poor’ outcomes – where the colonial movements, ensured that which itself should be viewed not as for creating social change. The idea Indeed, a decade after the Macpherson sector posts are from BME backgrounds ‘outcomes’ were not even actually black people’s voices challenged the a challenge but as a positive sign that of ‘nailing the lie’ was not simply report into institutional racism in the (a figure in line with the BME population outcomes, in that they did not focus on discrimination they faced on a day to excluded voices are heard. The third to provide evidence but to fashion police, Lothian & Borders Police had to of Scotland), and a roughly equivalent bringing about change for individuals day basis. challenge is particularly keenly felt in evidence in such a way that it could publicly apologise to the family of Simon number are being short-listed, or communities. A further 40% of 2018, where ‘alternative facts’ and be used to improve the lives of BME San after officers failed to treat an attack only 4.4% of BME applicants are authorities were rated as “mixed” ‘fake news’ have made the idea that people living in Britain. That has been by a gang of youths as a racist murder; subsequently appointed (compared to leaving just 31 per cent with “good” Civil society evidence can change opinion seem and will remain Runnymede’s key the family had always believed that the 7.1% of White UK candidates). If this outcomes. Scotland in 2018 is one of To the extent that attitudes and somewhat quaint and old-fashioned. focus as we enter a sixth decade, and attack was racially motivated. A year situation is allowed to continue then well-meaning people and policies, but outcomes on race equality have In response we must adopt a number we will continue to work with and listen before Simon’s murder, Scottish Justice the ethnic penalty faced by black and a definitive lack of action. Despite 50 improved over the past five decades, of strategies, including civil society to others similiarly committed to racial Secretary Kenny MacAskill made the minority ethnic people in Scotland years of race equality legislation, it is still anti-racist organising has played a action so that we’re not only relying justice to ensure Britain better lives up bold statement that “institutional racism will continue to grow. One victory for possible for the EHRC to say that some hugely important role. At present anti- on the strength of our arguements. At to the values of freedom, equality and does not exist in the police service in equality campaigners in Scotland was “are still near the start of their journey.” n racist civil society is weak in terms the same time we need to make the democracy in 2018 and beyond. n

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