A CONSERVATIVE member of the House of Lords and former government whip has told Parliament Britain is not racist “at all” – rejecting a UN report which concluded racism was “structural, institutional and systemic” in the UK.
Speaking at Westminster, Baroness Scott of Bybrook criticised the “superficial analysis” of the report, published earlier this year.
In a subtle dig to the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, the Tory frontbencher said rather than “sowing division” the Government was focused on providing everyone the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.
"Racism in the UK is structural, institutional and systemic; people of African descent in the country continue to encounter racial discrimination and erosion of their fundamental rights," warns UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.https://t.co/GIrdBDl3bX pic.twitter.com/2ckzfBrzXm
— UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) January 27, 2023
Lady Scott made her remarks as she was tackled over the statement by the panel, which expressed concern “about the stark and unsustainable inequalities underpinned by systemic racism, judicial bias, and disproportionate and discriminatory policing of people of African descent”.
The communities minister highlighted the “excellent progress” made in delivering a plan to tackle racial inequality and level up communities – despite fewer than half the measures being realised.
So far 32 of the 74 actions in the Inclusive Britain strategy published just over a year ago have been completed, according to a Government update.
The 97-page plan was developed in response to a controversial 2021 report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (Cred).
The Government-commissioned Cred report concluded that racism is a “real force” but that Britain is no longer a country where the “system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities” – a conclusion which was met with claims at the time that it was culturally deaf, out of step with public opinion, and steeped in denial.
Pressed over the findings of the UN experts, Lady Scott said: “We strongly reject most of these findings as they wrongly view the people of African descent as a single, homogenous group and present a superficial analysis of complex issues that fail to look at all possible causes of disparities, not just race.
“We did not feel that the United Kingdom’s strong reputation as one of the fairest and most open minded countries in the world was properly reflected in the working group’s initial findings, which failed to fully look at all possible causes of disparities, not just race or racism.
“As our Inclusive Britain Strategy and wider work of this Government demonstrates, instead of sowing division we must focus on giving every community and every individual the opportunity to thrive and succeed in a country where a person’s race, social or ethnic background is no barrier to achieving their ambitions.”
Former children’s TV presenter Baroness Benjamin pointed to criticism by the UN experts of the Windrush scandal, who highlighted the “irreparable harm” it had caused.
The Liberal Democrat peer, who chairs the Government’s Windrush Commemoration Committee, branded as “callous and heartless” a decision by Home Secretary Suella Braverman to scrap key reforms promised in response to the controversy.
Lady Scott said: “We are a country that is welcoming and open and I don’t believe is racist at all."
