No. 324 DECEMBER Bulletin 2000 RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY This Estimable Report As each year closes, publications of all types look back at the media year to gain perspective on what have been the contentious issues, either in their own pages or those of other publications. At the end of Year 2000, we postpone our review of the year’s major themes in favour of an examination of how the report on The Future of Multi- Ethnic Britain has been received since its official launch on 11 October. Substantial extracts from two key speeches made at launch events are featured. Positive assessments and assorted ‘messages of support’ demonstrate that those who read the report find much to praise. However, our review takes full account of the initial national press coverage, from moderate welcome to immoderate criticism.We’ve appended an exhaustive list of published articles and papers ‘for the record’ and for the use of future researchers maybe.We begin, however, with some observations from Dr Samir Shah, Chair of the Runnymede Trust. Six days before the launch of the Hague deserves the highest praise of the MEB report, a group of for attacking the Macpherson moment does Samir Shah: Commissioners and Trustees report’ – this in an editorial on the not deflect from the substantive ‘We have been gathered at the Runnymede Trust day that its own front page says: issues of the day. down this road offices to discuss the prospects for ‘Mr Hague’s attack was blunted by And there is a lot of that in this before’. press coverage. Should we lead on an embarrassing mistake’.We have estimable report. Its the call to declare Britain a been down this road before.The recommendations are thorough multicultural state? Too vague, battle lines certainly seem to be and far-reaching.The objective thought some. Perhaps the Equity being drawn up. now is to focus attention on the Plans for corporations? Too But Runnymede is used to specific areas – education, police technical thought others.What marching towards the sound of and policing, health and welfare, about something topical like the gunfire.We have had over 30 employment, politics and Refugee situation? Frankly, we years’ experience in this complex representation.The list is were worried that such a and sensitive field. Born during the formidable and covers all areas of thoughtful, reflective, almost Powellite years of the late 1960s, civic life. It is imperative to get academic report would simply not Runnymede has lived through these recommendations discussed be ‘sexy’ enough for the fickle riots in the streets, immigration and debated. Fourth Estate. panics and politicians playing the Runnymede has an essential Hmm. A right-wing press, race card.Through it all, role to play in this next phase.We determined at all costs (particularly Runnymede has made a significant are tasked to organise truth) to use the report as and substantial contribution to conferences and seminars at Runnymede ammunition to fire at New Labour, race relations in legislation and which particular parts of the has built a combined with political expediency policy development. On this report are considered; to reputation to wrongfoot all of us. And that history, Runnymede has built a collaborate with other for indepen- self-same press has now unleashed reputation for independent, organisations in reviewing, dent, original its pent-up anger on the original and, on occasion, monitoring and evaluating the and, on Macpherson report.The same provocative thinking. Runnymede response.This is a central part of occasion, newspaper that misquoted the is well versed in the practice of our work in the New Year and will provocative MEB report now writes:‘William ensuring that the sound and fury be a priority for our new Director. thinking. ISSN: 0965-7762 RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY BULLETIN DECEMBER 2000 1 Launching the Report: Responses from Government (1) A Very British Contribution do I have any interest in the MULTI-ETHNIC Extracts from the transcript of the speech rewriting of history. History is BRITAIN made by the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon not in the ownership of the Secretary of State … There are Jack Straw MP, at the launch of The Future as many views about the of Multi-Ethnic Britain at the Royal interpretation of history as there Commonwealth Society,Wednesday 11 are individual historians and there October 2000. can never be a single view of history, nor has there been. Of Please note: the full transcript can be read at course, there is a national story in www.runnymedetrust.org/meb. Mr Straw was welcomed and introduced by Dr Kate Gavron, the broadest sense. As Bhikhu vice-chair of the Commission. She referred in said, we can’t rewrite the facts of her opening remarks to the fact that he had that.We can argue, and I say we spoken at the occasion in January 1998 should, about the interpretation when the Commission was first set up. we place on the facts. Indeed there is a great historiographical Bhikhu Parekh, Your Excellencies, Bhikhu, ladies colleagues, Oxford University Press, issue about what are the facts, Chair of the Commission on and gentlemen. You’re quite right 1969], as of course was the work and of course the very selection the Future of to say that 2 or 3 years ago I was earlier in the 1960s which led my of different facts itself involves Multi-Ethnic pleased to attend the launch of party to, at that time, take what very subjective judgements. And Britain this Commission, set up by the was a very courageous decision – we’re all products of our history Runnymede Trust, and I’m very given all the filth that had – but there is no reason at all for pleased to be here today on the occurred at the time of the 1964 us to be trapped by one view of launch of the publication of the election – to plough ahead with our past as we look to the future. report. I’d also like, in making this good race relations policies and Now, I welcome all introduction, to express my to set us out on a road which by contributions to the debate about thanks for the very important no means has turned out to be how we promote racial equality contribution which the one of perfection (there are many in this country. Some aspects of Runnymede Trust has made over problems) but nonetheless a road the report are entirely with the the years to the strengthening of of very great importance and grain of what the Government is race relations and the highlighting progress. doing already; some are critical of of problems in that respect. This report … is of course the us, but no minister should be … One of the things I think Commission’s and it’s not mine. I afraid of criticism and, as I think we can be quietly pleased about welcome the contribution. I many people here know, I’m in this country is that, for all the woke up yesterday to read the always happy and ready to engage problems that we have, we have Daily Telegraph – the Daily in a robust argument. Most of better race relations than (I say Telegraph is an important the responsibilities of the Home advisedly) almost any other newspaper, and it has had a Office and of the European country that I can think record of separating its news Home Secretary of, and in many ways better race coverage which, on the are important relations than those in the United whole, has broadly ones.The whole States. It hasn’t happened by subscribed to the facts, area of crime, accident; it is partly a tribute to from its opinion which of law and the culture of this country, but it is its business. order, of trying is particularly a tribute to the Yesterday the headline to create a work of some people who toiled in the Daily Telegraph, more orderly in some pretty stony ground and to my absolute society; difficult ground initially and that, astonishment, was they not least, includes the Runnymede that I was, through the Trust. That report you mentioned launching of this Kate Gavron – 30 years ago – was very very report, intending introduces Jack Straw at the important in opening people’s to rewrite launch of the eyes [the reference was to Colour history! In any Report on the Future of Multi- and Citizenship by Jim Rose and event, it’s not Ethnic Britain Nicholas Deakin and their my report, nor 2 RUNNYMEDE’S QUARTERLY BULLETIN DECEMBER 2000 are patently extremely important be in terms of opening people’s yes, we can discuss the responsibilities. But I’ve said this eyes – particularly the eyes of the recommendation for a Cabinet before and I’ll repeat it; I believe white population – to what it committee, what I would say, that the greatest responsibility feels like in Britain to be entirely Bhikhu, is that there is a real that I have is to use the weight of law-abiding and black or Asian, determination across my office to try to make Britain a and the drama of the inquiry (and Government to ensure that the fairer place; a place where people it was a drama) was itself recommendations of the MULTI-ETHNIC of every race and religion feel illuminating and educating. The Lawrence Report and the wider BRITAIN themselves to be an equal part of report’s recommendations (70 of aspiration of achieving racial the whole; a society which makes them in all) were very important, equality in our society is driven …as a a celebration out of the fact that but what’s even more important through.