Labour’s race relations record under assault
Sir Bill Morris, general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G), has launched an attack on the “silent conspiracy” to bury efforts to end institutionalised racism.
Five years on from Lord Macpherson’s report into the killing of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, some Government members still were “pandering” to racist attitudes, Sir Bill contended.
Sir Bill stands down as general secretary this autumn.
Sir Bill warned Tony Blair that the PM had a lot of “remedial work” to do to regain the trust of the British people, especially on domestic issues.
The TUC holds its annual conference next week in Brighton.
This year’s conference season will surely test the mettle of the Labour government, whose popularity has been hit by the unpopular Iraq war, the continuing absence of weapons of mass destruction, a myriad of domestic issues including public service reforms and tuition fees, and, pivotally, the Dr David Kelly scandal.
Sir Bill told epolitix.com that Lord Macpherson’s report “embarrassed” the UK.
He urged the Government to show direction on race issues.
“Every single day you wake up and you hear another announcement from the Home Office, which is attacking, attacking, attacking.
“They are pandering to anti-social attitudes out there who are, quite frankly, racist and the Government believes, in fact, that they can meet the concerns of conservatism by being more draconian and nasty than any government has been.
“I think they have got it badly wrong on the whole context of race and immigration,” he said.
Sir Bill highlighted the dangers inherent in David Blunkett’s race and immigration policies. He said they were “more draconian and nasty than any government has been”.
In an apparent attempt to pacify the TUC and some Labour party members, Downing Street last week announced it would hold a public services forum with union to consult on Government reforms.
