- Tuesday, January 31, 2023
The first Indian and the first international student to win university student elections in the UK has urged people to call out 'systemic racism' in the country to eradicate it. Jaipur-born Ranjeet Rathore hopes that the future is immensely bright for the exchange of knowledge and business between India and…
The selection process of a university which failed to reappoint an Indian lecturer to a role she held for years was “tainted by race discrimination”, an employment tribunal has ruled.Kajal Sharma, who was hired as a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth in 2016 was not reappointed when her…
There have been calls for the Labour leadership of Birmingham to take corrective action after a leaked internal survey revealed racism and inequalities in the distribution of funds to various wards.Some Labour councillors belonging to Asian and black communities claimed there was a ‘toxic culture' within the political group, which…
As part of the UK government and NHS's commitment to tackle health inequalities for those in need of life-saving transplants or regular blood transfusions, funding worth £700,000 to address the shortage of organ, blood, and stem cell donors from Black, Asian and mixed ethnic backgrounds has been announced. In a…
Westminster City Council has adopted the phrase “global majority” in place of the term BAME has often been used to represent black, Asian and minority ethnic. The Labour-run local authority’s commitment at the recent annual general meeting of its black, Asian and multiple ethnic staff network came after wider questions…
In a shocking revelation, it has been found that 50 per cent of the children who are admitted to hospital with asthma in London are from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, as against 27.5 per cent white children and young people. In October last year, an analysis commissioned…
ETHNIC minorities are being held back by “structural racism” and “discriminatory attitudes” in the workplace, according to trade unions and charities, after a damning report found minorities continue to lag in wages and wealth despite making sharp progress in education. The study, published by London’s Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS),…
In a momentous day, Britain’s first south Asian prime minister, who became the Conservative Party leader on Diwali day [24], has vowed to unite the country and his riven party. Speaking on the steps of Number 10, Rishi Sunak, a practising Hindu, told the country that he would be a…
Religious festivals like Diwali are typically a time for family, feasting, dancing and celebration, however it can be difficult to know how to support a loved one with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 900,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, three per cent of that number…
BRITISH ASIAN students across the country celebrated top A-level grades last Thursday (18), with one school in Newham – where 71 per cent of residents are from BAME communities – sending a remarkable 92 students to Oxford and Cambridge. Nearly 90 per cent of students from Brampton Manor Academy in…
The UK’s Royal Air Force resorted to “positive discrimination” in its recruitment process to meet the diversity targets set by the government, a media report said.Sources told Sky News that recruitment officers were directed to prioritise the placement of women and ethnic minority candidates on training courses in the year…
A man from Leeds has given up his plans to become a police officer he was subjected to a stop and search which he believed was based on 'racist profiling'. Hesham Sharif, 33, a British Somali, always wanted to follow a similar career path as his brother who is an officer…
GREENPEACE UK has said that the climate emergency is a legacy of colonialism and people of colour suffer the most from its ill effects. A report by the Runnymede Trust and Greenpeace has said that people of colour in Britain are more likely to live close to a waste incinerator.…
THE UK's patient safety and primary care minister James Morris along with chief midwifery officer professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent on Monday (18) co-chaired the third meeting of the Maternity Disparities Taskforce. At the meeting, the Muslim Women’s Network and human rights organisation Birthrights presented findings from their latest reports on Muslim…
SOLICITORS in England and Wales on Monday (18) marked the beginning of the South Asian Heritage Month, which this year is focusing on celebrating and commemorating South Asian culture and educating the public. Law Society vice president Lubna Shuja said, “I am delighted to mark the start of South Asian…
In the wake of the Yorkshire racism scandal, members of BBC staff have written a letter condemning the broadcaster’s decision to stand by Michael Vaughan, who allegedly said to a group of players of Asian ethnicity in 2009 that there were “too many of your lot” at the county and…
SOUTH ASIAN mental health experts and survivors are urging the government to provide care specifically to meet their needs. They warned that the Covid pandemic has highlighted the lack of “culturally appropriate and culturally sensitive” services, and people are “suffering in silence”. As part of its 10-year mental health strategy,…
The BBC has agreed to pay £30,000 in libel damages to a British Bangladeshi councillor in a case of misidentification which reflected “the notion that all people of colour look the same”.BBC One London News had on 29 October 2020 aired the wrong video of Labour Councillor Liza Begum while…
Fewer than five per cent of blood donors who gave blood in the last year were from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. Yet 1,000 people in England – mostly people from Asian backgrounds – suffer from a disease called thalassaemia that affects red blood cells, requiring regular blood transfusions…
Kirit Modi, Honorary President for the National Kidney Federation (NKF) and the National Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Transplant Alliance (NBTA) was among those that received royal honours last week. The kidney advocate and transplant recipient was awarded an MBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for…
Despite the recent successes of seeing better representation on the honours list with 15.1% BAME award winners in the 2022 New Year’s Honour List, this special Platinum Jubilee year has sadly seen a significant drop with only 13.3% successful candidates coming from an ethnic minority background. This decline however comes…
A new research has revealed that 75 per cent of women of colour have experienced racism at work in UK, with 27 per cent having suffered racial slurs. The report released on Wednesday (25) by the gender equality organisation the Fawcett Society, and the race equality thinktank the Runnymede Trust…
WALES has stepped up efforts to tackle bullying and racism in schools after a student lost a finger reportedly fleeing bullies, according to a media report. Education minister Jeremy Miles has said that schools have to take a "robust" approach on these issues, the BBC reported. He added that an…
The Mind mental health charity said mainstream services often fail to provide therapies that meet a person’s cultural or language needs and they are not referred to the right support. It comes after a study in May by the Mental Health Foundation found that people from a black, Asian or…
An experienced south Asian Crown court judge has called on the body which appoints and promotes justices to investigate the culture of bullying and racism which exist in the profession. Judge Kaly Kaul QC’s comments coincide with a so called “independent review” of the recruitment process by the Judicial Appointments…
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has defended his record on tackling Islamophobia, after a senior Newcastle councillor was suspended from the party for alleging a “Muslim plot”, writes Daniel Holland. It emerged last week that Joyce McCarty had asserted in a text message that Muslim councillors in the West End had…
THE Law Society of England and Wales, which represents 140,000 solicitors in the country, recently stated that there is virtually no chance of achieving a judiciary that mirrors diverse Britain, because the very recruitment process that claims to deliver that goal has failed. The first black president of the Law…
UK has unveiled an ‘Inclusive Britain’ action plan with changes to policing, health and education to address racial disparities in the country. The plan, as a response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic disparities chaired by Tony Sewell, has more than 70 measures including greater scrutiny over the way…
NEW research published on Thursday (17) revealed that areas of London with black, Asian and minority ethnic populations of more than 50 per cent are more likely to face the highest climate risk including flooding, exposure to toxic air, heat risk and limited access to green space. According to a…
Toplined by Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna, the much-awaited espionage thriller Mission Majnu has locked a new date for its theatrical release. Earlier scheduled to enter cinemas on May 13, the film will now arrive on June 10, the makers announced on Wednesday. Directed by Shantanu Bagchi, Mission Majnu is…
THE new Trades Union Congress (TUC) report published on Wednesday (9) revealed that black and minority ethnic (BME) women are twice as likely to be on zero-hours contracts as white men (4.7 per cent compared to 2.4 per cent). Overall, BME workers are overrepresented on zero-hours contracts compared to white…
A NUMBER of remarkable women were amongst the winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (8). Bina Mehta took home the coveted GG2 Hammer Award, presented to a BAME person who has smashed the proverbial glass ceiling, for her rise…
A leaked report into the work culture of Dudley council has exposed hidden racism in the local authority, including “disproportionate” use of disciplinaries by senior managers to BAME colleagues. The report, titled ‘Dudley council equality review’ was made available to council staff via their intranet in December 2021. It was…
BIRMINGHAM CITY captain has called for the teaching of black, Asian and minority ethnic history and experiences to be part of school curriculum. Troy Deeney, who is also a anti-racism campaigner says it is important to inform about discriminatory stereotypes from an early age. Deeney has published the results of…
THERE are "overwhelming" minority ethnic health inequalities in the NHS, experts have said adding radical action is required to tackle the problem. The study for the first time has revealed the true scale as well as "vast and "widespread" inequality in every aspect of healthcare it reviewed. According to the…
A councillor has exposed shocking racism at Sheffield Council and said a number of serious incidents were ignored. Councillor Kaltum Rivers, representative for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale ward, said she has been shocked by the “blatant racism” at the authority which she said has been the hardest problem she has…
CONCERNS have been raised about the “disproportionate” number of black and mixed heritage children from Walsall who end up in court. Walsall Youth Justice Service told the council’s children’s services overview and scrutiny committee more young people from those communities were going through the system than their white counterparts. At…
Representation of south Asian and black judges “remains unacceptably low”, according to the man who heads the UK’s tribunal courts. Writing on the judiciary’s internal website, the senior president of tribunals, Sir Keith Lindblom said ethnic minorities do less well than white candidates being considered to join the judiciary. In…
A woman working for Nottingham University Hospitals Trust has spoken out about her experience of racism, bullying and harassment at the organisation – and told directors that it is “still happening”. Onyinye Enwezor told the trust’s board she felt she was discriminated against when applying for a more senior role…
ASIAN individuals applying to the Sandwell Conservatives have had their party memberships deliberately declined in an attempt to consolidate power for a small section of the party, a former Tory councillor has claimed. Councillor Ian Chambers, who was a Conservative local politician until defecting to the Labour party last week,…
SEVEN projects have received a share of £100,000 funding as part of government’s commitment to tackle health inequalities and promote living kidney donation among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The Living Kidney Transplant Scheme has been launched as part of NHS Blood and Transplant’s ongoing commitment to address the…
HUNDREDS of workers at three East London hospitals will strike for two weeks over a pay dispute with their employers. Staff at the Royal London Hospital, St Bartholmew’s Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital plan to take action from Monday, January 31 as they try to push Barts Health NHS Trust…
A 24-hour strike by private hire drivers in Leeds is set to take place on Monday (17), as a senior member of a drivers’ association claims the proposed rules “treat us like criminals”. Proposed new suitability rules, currently being consulted on by Leeds City Council, include sections on what can…
COUNCILLORS questioned the HR director at Nottingham’s hospitals after a culture of bullying and racism was unearthed during a major inspection of the trust. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) – which includes the Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital – were handed a ‘requires improvement’ rating last year. Health…
Survey shows ethnic minorities among those disproportionately affected by the pandemic A RADICAL shake-up is needed to provide more support to students suffering money problems during the Covid crisis, according to campaigners. British Asian student leaders say ethnic minority undergraduates and postgraduates have been among the groups disproportionately affected by…
By Nylah Salam Human rights campaigner and counter-terrorism commissioner Sara Khan, paediatric cardiology professor Shakeel Ahmed Qureshi, Leicester academic professor Kamlesh Khunti and actor Nitin Ganatra are among several British Asians who have been recognised in the New Year Honour’s List published tonight (31). Khan has been recognised with a…
NINE-YEAR-OLD Nia Shah has won a national arts competition – ‘Bringing Light Into Life’ – which was organised during Diwali celebrations to raise awareness about organ donation. The innovative contest was held by The Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Steering Group (JHOD), the UK, in partnership with NHS Blood and…
Revealed: Fewer than one in four has had third vaccination Health experts are urging south Asians to get their booster jab after Eastern Eye revealed that fewer than one in four has taken a third vaccine. Analysis by this newspaper suggests that as of 5 December, only 22.6 per cent…
A NEW drive by motorsport bosses to make the sport more racially diverse led by Lewis Hamilton has been backed by campaigners. The Motorsport UK governing body held a conference in November in Bicester, Oxfordshire, to discuss the lack of BAME people employed in the sport. Its Racial Diversity Sub…
BRITAIN'S most senior police officials are expected to make a public admission that their forces are institutionally racist, the Guardian has reported. It said discussions began on Thursday (9) and their adviser said declaration are to be made if to be believed by BAME communities. According to the Guardian more…
THE BBC has admitted that it is struggling to retain employees from black, Asian and ethnic staff members who complained that they were being left at “the bottom of the pecking order”, The Times reported. During a board meeting in July, BBC directors acknowledged that “one of the key challenges”…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said he prefers to keep the term BAME to represent people of colour in the UK. Khan said the abbreviation - which stands for black, Asian and minority ethnic – is used as a term of "strength rather than weakness". Khan told Eastern Eye on…
THE BBC is set to drop the "BAME" acronym after a report has revealed the term is "not fit for the purpose", reported The Telegraph. The report added that the term could “cause serious insult” by treating ethnic minorities as a single group. Along with ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5,…
A new report on Covid-19 health inequalities in the UK has urged the government to measure the survival analysis among minorities over time and to oversee youth vaccine uptake. The report published last week was prepared by equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, with support from the Cabinet Office Race Disparity Unit…
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has announced £440,000 in funding to encourage black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to donate organs and blood. The scheme also aims to address an urgent need for more black blood donors to treat disorders like sickle cell. It is part of the UK government’s initiative to…
I HAVE written at length about my experience of bereavement. And I have no intention – for your sake as much as mine – of revisiting that story here. But the process of writing, and the reflection that accompanied it, prompted me to realise that as a society, we don’t…
Black and south Asian people in the UK urged to get jabs to cut higher Covid death rates DOCTORS have urged unvaccinated black and south Asian people to get their Covid jabs as new data revealed that hospitalisations and deaths are higher in those groups, reported The Guardian. Infections were…
'No jab, no job' policy adds to mounting care worker vacancies WORKERS from India are needed to help tackle the UK’s care home staffing crisis, according to industry leaders. They have appealed to the government to put care workers on the list of shortage occupations to fill more than 112,000…
A surgeon at an NHS trust told an employment tribunal in Manchester that he had been called a “traitor to his community” by other ethnic minority staff, after he raised concerns about the dangerous practice of another doctor in another NHS hospital, The Times reported. Shyam Kumar, who complained about…
A NEW research backed by the NHS has urged to scrap the term “BAME” as it “erases identities”, The Telegraph reported. The NHS Race and Health Observatory launched a four-week consultation with the public in July on how best to collectively refer to people from black, Asian and minority ethnic…
MEMBERS of the Muslim and Sikh community protested alongside deselected councillors this morning against the decision by Labour to remove councillors from their elected position in Sandwell. It comes after four Labour councillors of Asian background did not pass selection panel interviews to stand again as Labour candidates and that…
COUNCIL bosses have been trying to hire more school staff from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities to reflect Glasgow’s population better. A meeting heard there has been success in recruiting more diverse workers and efforts are being made to improve their chances of promotion. Most higher earning roles…
MIDDLESBROUGH councillors have voted unanimously to write to the prime minister to demand he bans an employment practice that disproportionately impacts BAME workers. Since 2020, across the country, one in 10 workers has experienced ‘fire and rehire’, according to Trades Union Congress research. This is where people are told to…
UNIVERSITIES are required to drive up outcomes for disadvantaged students by improving education standards in schools and colleges in the local community. Thirteen new projects will tackle persistent inequalities that create barriers for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students to access and take part in postgraduate research. The projects,…
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has learned up to four Labour councillors in Sandwell have been deselected after failing to pass the party’s panelling process ahead of the May 2022 local elections. It is understood the councillors concerned did not pass selection panel interviews to stand again as Labour…
AFTER cricket a racism scandal has hit football where a diversity report alleges that the FA's referee system is obstructing black and Asian people to reach the elite level of the game. The black and Asian referees say because of the racist abuse and prejudice, they are not being able…
THE chief constable of West Yorkshire Police has backed “positive discrimination” to allow the force to be more diverse. John Robins said favouring ethnic minority candidates during recruitment would help the force “get to where we want to be”, but warned he was legally unable to impose such a system.…
A former BBC production manager has claimed she was racially discriminated against when applying for a new job at the company, where bosses ‘laughed’ at her Indian accent. Malika Keswani was being interviewed for the BBC Sport Production role in Salford, Manchester, where she alleged the all-white panel ‘subtly laughed’…
WARRINGTON South Constituency Labour Party has elected Shireen Saeed Mohammed as its first woman Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) officer. Mohammed, who has Kurdistan heritage, is a qualified solicitor who graduated from a university of law and politics in 2006. She can speak five languages and is currently volunteering…
After Shershaah, moviegoers have been waiting to watch Sidharth Malhotra again in a film. The actor has some interesting films lined up and one of them is Mission Majnu. On Tuesday (02), Malhotra took to Twitter to announce that Mission Majnu is all set to release on 13th May 2022.…
BIRMINGHAM'S health and social care chief has been nominated for a national award after helping to lead the city’s response to the pandemic. Cllr Paulette Hamilton (Lab, Holyhead), cabinet member for health and social care, holds the portfolios for two areas drastically hit by Covid-19. Now, she is in the…
EVEN though my family didn’t celebrate it, I learned a lot about Diwali growing up and saw how much it means to people. From the kids bringing halwa and jalebi to the playground, to the decorations at Dr Gandhi’s clinic on Bristol’s Stapleton Road, it was always a point of…
An investigation into Imperial College London’s historical links to the British empire has recommended to remove a statue and rename buildings and lecture theatres that celebrate scientists who advocated racism, The Guardian reported. The independent history group has made these recommendations to address racial inequalities and improve inclusivity at the…
NEWCASTLE'S first non-white lord mayor made an impassioned plea on Friday (22) for the North East to take a stand against the evils of racism. Habib Rahman told other civic leaders from across the region that “people like me have suffered far too much”, during an event to mark charity…
RACISM and sexism in the workplace was regularly witnessed by a London council’s staff, an independent report has revealed. A race report on conditions at Harrow Council found staff flagged cases of anti-Semitism and sexual harassment on several occasions. It noted there had been no action in response to these…
LABOUR parliamentarian Apsana Begum has stoutly opposed the “fire and rehire” tactics of companies, saying they exposed the “failures of the law” to protect the interests of workers in the UK. “Fire and rehire is not just an attack on the rights and pay of workers, it is an exposure…
A risk manager who experienced “horrific” racism when she moved to York is behind a bid to make the city the first ‘anti-racist city’ in the north of England. Haddy Njie was shocked at the level of racism she experienced after moving to the city in 2015 and set up…
SOME work-in-progress to address health inequalities affecting BAME communities in Calderdale is starting to have an impact, health partners heard. Director of Transformation and Partnerships at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Anna Basford, said since April 2020 evidence had emerged about the disproportionate impact the Covid-19 pandemic was having…
UK health secretary Sajid Javid has given the green light to use Artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle racial inequalities in the NHS, reported The Guardian. Under the new plan, millions of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) Britons are expected to get benefit from revolutionary computer techniques designed to transform care…
A FEW days ago, I spoke to a colleague in India about the situation there related to the pandemic, and her observation was that the situation was “pretty well back to normal”. As the festivals of Dussehra and Diwali are round the corner, there appeared to be a general sense…
AN NHS leader on ethnic health inequalities has urged people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills ahead of Restart a Heart Day on Saturday (16). Dr Habib Naqvi, the director in charge of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, has called for…
A UK charity has called for renewed action as a new report revealed that British Asian babies have a 60 per cent increased risk of neonatal mortality compared to white babies. The latest MBRRACE-UK perinatal mortality surveillance report, which tracked perinatal deaths from 2019, has said that while the overall rate of…
ALMOST two-thirds of south Asians said the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on their mental wellbeing, with the data prompting community leaders to call for culturally sensitive mental health services. Adults from the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities reported struggling the most, with 60 per cent saying their mental wellbeing…
A prominent community leader has called for more Black representation on Middlesbrough Council. John Kabuye believes that people need to take a chance and support members of his community to run in elections as there are currently no Black councillors. Mr Kabuye, who runs the Ubuntu Centre as well as…
STAFF SERGEANT SOHAIL ASHRAF of the British Army has called on the Asian community to consider donating blood. According to him, the donation could “save someone’s life in their hour of need”. The most recent data from the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) shows that fewer than five per cent…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Tuesday (12) launched a new community programme to address air pollution in the deprived areas of London. The Breathe London community programme, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, is set to empower local action on air quality ahead of the UK hosting COP26 and the Ultra Low Emission…
by Khadija Mussa, ambassador for Diversity, Inclusion, and Acceptance (DIA) Student Collective at Royal Holloway, University of London How can higher education students be aware of the brutal inequalities and hypocrisy they may encounter in the corporate world? In a world of increased awareness around identity and multiple ethnicities, a…
SCHOOLS in Wales must look to improve teachings of Welsh, and black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) histories and cultures, a report, commissioned by the Welsh government has said. Estyn's report, it said that teachers needed more professional support and found schools in multicultural regions were better at teaching histories…
AN Uber driver who lost his job when automated face-scanning software failed to recognise him is accusing the firm of indirect race discrimination in a legal battle, The Guardian reported. He filed an employment tribunal claim alleging his account was illegally deactivated when facial-verification software used to log drivers on…
TWO THIRDS of UK finance workers from ethnic minority backgrounds have faced discrimination in the workplace, a survey of 800 employees from more than 400 companies has found. Analysis on Tuesday (6) revealed 66 per cent of BAME staff had experienced discrimination at work as a result of their background.…
A North East council has vowed to take action to reduce the pay gap between its BAME and white employees. Newcastle City Council released its ethnicity pay gap for the first time this week, confirming that its non-white staff are paid 4.4 per cent less. Councillors heard on Thursday that…
CAMPAIGNERS have warned that Asian victims of abuse are “being failed” due to a lack of cultural understanding by authorities, which they said can cause police investigations to “fall apart”. In interviews with Eastern Eye this week, charity bosses have said police should do more to recognise the specific barriers…
DUTCH border police can conduct identity checks of travellers based on their ethnicity, a district court in the Hague has ruled. The legal challenge was brought forward by Amnesty International and black Dutch citizens to the Marechaussee frontier police’s mobile security surveillance unit, known as MTV. Formal border checks are…
THE author of a new book analysing the arguments against a controversial race report which denied institutional racism exists in the UK has revealed his motivations for delving into the debate. Released earlier this year, the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (Cred) report received a barrage of criticism from…
BRITISH Indian workers are now dominating the finance industry in the UK, official figures have revealed. Some 20.5 per cent of employees of Indian origin are in the banking or financial sector, the highest proportion of any group. The figure was 14.6 per cent for those of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin…
ATTIYA KHAN DISCUSSES HER COMING-OF-AGE DEBUT NOVEL HAVING a novel published is something Attiya Khan had wanted since she was a little girl, and that dream finally came true earlier this month with her delightful debut book Ten Steps To Us. She wrote an opening scene during a creative writing…
BUSINESSES will lose out in a “war of talent” unless they invest in Asian and black employees, senior corporate executives have been warned. The inaugural GG2 Women of Colour (WoC) conference cautioned that companies would be left behind if they did not hire enough ethnic talent. Panellist Sanjay Bhandari, chairman…
A NEW survey has revealed that one in three (32.7 per cent) black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) workers in NHS mental health trusts have experienced abuse, reported The Guardian. For BAME workers across the NHS, the rate is more than one in four (28.9 per cent. According to an…
WOMEN from ethnic minorities earn less hour than white British men and a third of them report being “unfairly passed over for or denied” a promotion at work, according to a new report on Tuesday (7). Among other findings that reveal the extent of bias in the labour market, a…
THE 'Pathway to Success' residential programme to find the next generation of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) leaders will start this week at the University of Oxford’s Magdalen College. The programme, now in its second year, is designed to equip BAME individuals with the tools and knowledge required to…
As Asian and Black police attack recruitment of new officers, we reveal that not one single force represents diverse communities The president of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) has criticised the way police forces across England and Wales have recruited new officers as a “once in a lifetime opportunity…
NEWCASTLE'S first BAME lord mayor has spoken out after being subjected to a “sickening” racist attack. Habib Rahman was left “infuriated to the core” as he and others were targeted with verbal abuse and had fireworks aimed at them outside a mosque in the West End at the weekend. The…
PARYUSHAN Mahaparva is here and to commemorate the Jain festival of reflection and seeking forgiveness, seven youngsters from the community are promoting the cause of organ donation. They are encouraging Jains in the UK to talk about organ donation during Paryushan, which started on September 3 and will continue till…
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Foundation has stated that it will give more focus on improving diversity on its board. The Foundation’s annual report said formal targets for diversity had not previously been set but would be monitored and reported on, according to a report in The Telegraph.…
A NEW survey has revealed a shocking disparity in Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections in General Practice. The survey, carried out by the GP forum at the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), has found out that over 70 per cent of GPs from black, Asian and minority…
A new mural put up in Driffield depicting local notables was not intended to attract “negative publicity” after some slammed it for failing to depict BAME people. Driffield Town Council stated the mural, recently put up in Middle Road North, featured well-known local business owners as a tribute to those…
THE president of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) has criticised the way forces across England and Wales have recruited new officers as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity missed”. Speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye, Inspector Andy George said the NBPA was “very concerned” that not one single police force was representative of…
A NEW study has revealed that women and people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds in the surgical profession were more likely to be passed over for promotion or quit altogether, reported The Telegraph. Analysis of more than 3,000 junior surgeons in the NHS in England found that…
COUNCILLORS on Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Personnel Committee will consider an update this week about the local authority’s workforce, which includes data on age, ethnicity, staff turnover, pay levels and absences. The committee meeting on Wednesday (1), will consider a range of workforce statistics from spring 2021 which it is…
Revealed: Top judges being taught how to stop Asian and black lawyers from progressing South Asian lawyers are demanding to know why judges are being taught how turn down candidates applying to join the judiciary. Documents obtained by Eastern Eye reveal that senior high court justices, and others, who are…
THE chair of a review into racism in Torbay says he “would find it very hard to continue” if he were in Steve Darling’s position – the Liberal Democrat leader who made comments about ethnicity in the Bay area last week. Cllr Darling found himself in hot water after suggesting…
CALDERDALE Council is supporting the Root Out Racism movement being launched by healthcare and violence reduction partnerships. The council is one of nearly 500 organisations to join Root Out Racism movement being launched by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit. To…
HEALTHCARE leaders and politicians in Leeds believe a new anti-racism pledge is an acknowledgement that we still live in a “structurally racist” society, and that more needs to be done to remove barriers preventing black and minority ethnic (BAME) people from reaching positions of power. The Root Out Racism pledge,…
A NEW campaign has been launched to showcase how Work Coaches are helping jobseekers back into work through the JobHelp website. The initiative by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) targets to increase awareness about the Work Coach support, government skills, employment and support programmes and training courses. The…
THERE is an urgent shortage of organs for kidney transplants among patients from Black, Asian, mixed-race and minority ethnic communities, says NHS Blood and Transplant today (19) in a new report, which also states that organ donation still remains a challenge in BAME communities. The body has announced a further…
THERE are not enough south Asians starring in TV adverts, according to leading actors. They believe progress has been made in making commercials more diverse, but said it is too slow. Some broadcasters feel there are more Asian-origin people cast in mixed-race relationships in adverts, but racial stereotypes remain common. It comes…
CONCERNED councillors plan to develop a new scheme in a bid to boost Slough’s worst vaccinated area. Despite over half of the borough’s population being fully vaccinated, the town has one of the lowest uptakes in Berkshire. This concern was raised by councillor Rob Anderson (Lab: Britwell and Northborough), lead…
HOSPITAL line managers told Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff to go by “Western names” while on duty because their own are too hard to pronounce, a shocking inspection has revealed. Workers at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Trust (UHBW), which runs the BRI, Bristol Children’s Hospital and…
"DEEP-ROOTED” inequalities still persist in UK police and very little has been done to stamp out the racial injustice, claimed a recent report by an all-party committee of MPs, which has also heavily criticised the force and the government for making negligible progress in the past 22 years since the…
Rishi Sunak tops annual ranking of most influential Asians in the UK PANDEMIC heroes who went above and beyond their call of duty have been honoured in a special edition of the GG2 Power List, which ranks the 101 most influential Asians in Britain. Thirty Asian doctors, nurses and researchers…
REPRESENTATION of minority ethnic communities in prominent public roles in Britain has more than doubled in the past four years, a report released on Monday (26) said, adding that the biggest increase in numbers is recorded in Asian men. As per data collated by Operation Black Vote (OBV), there…
AN award-winning former Tameside GP and leading NHS campaigner, Dr Kailash Chand OBE, has passed away at the age of 73. His son Dr Aseem Malhotra said on Twitter his father had suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday evening (26). Dr Chand was one of the most influential Asian doctors…
AN award-winning former Tameside GP and leading NHS campaigner, Dr Kailash Chand OBE, has passed away at the age of 73. His son Dr Aseem Malhotra tweeted to say that his father had suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday evening (26). https://twitter.com/DrAseemMalhotra/status/1419734928133079041 Dr Chand was one of the most influential…
CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed a report recommending an opt-out scheme for HIV testing, in the hopes it will reach under-represented groups in the UK. Published on Wednesday (21), the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on HIV/AIDs said opt-out testing should be adopted across healthcare settings, including when patients register…
THE birth of the National Health Service (NHS) took place in Trafford, Greater Manchester, on July 5, 1948. The father of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan, described it as “a great and novel undertaking”, and the stuff of history. Staff from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds have been essential to…
HEALTHCARE workers, pharmacists, faith leaders, restaurateurs and retailers have expressed concern over rising Covid-19 infection rates, as experts predicted the UK will soon have more new cases each day than it did at the height of a second wave of the pandemic earlier this year. Laws requiring masks to be…
AN ASIAN author has revealed how her personal experiences of colourism influenced her debut children’s book. Monika Singh Gangotra’s Sunflower Sisters focuses upon the friendship of two young girls, Amrita and Kiki. The plot showcases the joy of the friends experiencing each other’s south Asian and Nigerian communities and traditions…
ENGLAND’s leading exam board has picked Tanika Gupta’ famous Indian adaptation of Ibsen’s classic to be introduced to GCSE drama students as a part of its effort to “decolonise” the curriculum, a media report stated on Thursday (15). Edexcel, which is owned by Pearson, has announced that from…
A HEADTEACHER who faced a massive backlash for apparently blaming the Bangladeshi community for rising coronavirus infections is stepping down. Karen Todd, the headteacher of Richard Avenue Primary School in Sunderland for 18 years, said she would retire on August 31, a MailOnline report said. Her letter to schoolchildren’s parents…
“We’re still appointed by a nod and a wink” say judges. The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is institutionally discriminatory and operates a “cancer of secret soundings”, the Justice Support Network (JSN), a group set up to help judges, has claimed. In a letter to the justice select committee, seen by…
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FA) has denied media reports claiming that England team has snubbed an invitation from Downing Street after prime minister Boris Johnson “threw his weight” behind home secretary Priti Patel over racial abuse row with team’s defender Tyrone Mings. It was being reported that the team has shelved…
Gareth Southgate is “everything a leader should be - respectful, humble; he tells the truth, he connects with the people of this country,” Gary Neville recently said of his former England team-mate. In his five years in the role, Southgate has understood the gravitas of his position extends beyond the…
A council says it is striving to be “fully inclusive” after a magazine it publishes was criticised for having no ethnic minorities in it. Redcar and Cleveland resident Colin Harvey said he was struck after reading the latest issue of ‘This Is Redcar & Cleveland’ as he could not find…
FROM the onset of the coronavirus crisis in March last year, it has been clear that ethnic minorities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Experts have argued that this is partly due to BAME people being more likely to work in frontline jobs – such as in healthcare, hospitality,…
TRADES Union Congress (TUC) leader Frances O’Grady has called for more Asian, black and minority ethnic workers to join the organisation as she said being part of a “union means you are much more likely to get fair and equal pay”. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with Eastern Eye,…
A new whistle blowing policy for judges is “virtually ineffective”, “a missed opportunity”, and “unlikely to make effective change” to the existing culture of fear, bullying and racism in the judiciary, angry south Asian judges have told Eastern Eye. They also criticised the appearance before the justice select committee of…
THE National Health Service (NHS) has released a short film to boost vaccine confidence among south Asian and black communities. Featuring a few vaccinated members of the BAME community, the film aims to boost the vaccine uptake among people, especially from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds, since reports say they are…
BLACK and minority ethnic (BAME) workers are three times more likely than white workers to have lost working hours during the pandemic, says a new TUC poll published on Friday (2). The survey – carried out for the TUC by Britain Thinks – found that around 1 in 11 (9…
THE NHS depends on black and minority ethnic staff (BAME) to provide high quality, reliable and safe care to patients – and has done so since its inception in 1948. They enrich the NHS with their skills, enthusiasm and diverse perspectives, and their continuing contribution has been highlighted by the…
AS ENGLAND’S football team celebrated their 2-0 victory against Germany on Tuesday (29) in the European Championships, fans will be gearing up for the next match on Saturday (3). Similar to the 2018 World Cup, Euros 2020 has brought together England fans across the country. It has also sparked a…
AS THE world watches the European Championships, Eastern Eye asked five football fans to reflect on their identity, what the game symbolises to them and their sense of belonging in the UK. They answered these questions: a. Do you believe the England football team is a symbol which belongs to…
RACIAL disparities in British society are real, but discrimination is often not the reason for these inequalities, a government race adviser has said. Dr Tony Sewell, head of the government’s commission on race and ethnic disparities, said there were “deeper factors” at play instead, such as a person’s educational background…
A DIVERSE curriculum in British schools could help “foster a sense of belonging” in ethnic minority communities, a government advisor said during a virtual event on Monday (28). Organised by integration thinktank British Future, the Teaching Modern Britain event explored the importance of a more inclusive curriculum in schools and…
SECOND-GENERATION ethnic minorities are less likely to be employed than their white counterparts in Britain, says a new research published on Tuesday (29), which also mentions that some ethnic groups- women of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin- are less likely to reach managerial positions as compared to the white majority. …
ETHNIC minority children are more likely to test positive for Covid-19 and end up in hospital, says a recent UK study, suggesting a link between race and outcome of Covid-19 among children. Published in JAMA Pediatrics, the study, which is claimed to be the largest observational study yet on…
THE pandemic has revealed the full extent of the contribution of healthcare workers in the UK. However, an Eastern Eye report this week has uncovered horrific incidents of racial discrimination towards BAME medical staff. Several NHS staff admitted they had faced recent incidents of racist behaviour from patients or parents,…
Running in groups helps tackle threats and gives confidence BRITISH Asian runners have revealed the racist and sexist behaviour they have suffered and how local clubs have helped them tackle safety fears. A recent survey found that 60 per cent of women said they had been harassed while out jogging…
LAWYERS and police chiefs have warned British Asians that using the word “coconut” as a slur towards another person risks breaking hate crime laws. They said the jibe, often used towards BAME people by members of their own community, accusing them of shunning their heritage to get ahead, may incite…
BUCKINGHAM PALACE has admitted that it “must do more” as it came to light for the first time on Thursday (24) that Britain's royal family employs a very low proportion of ethnic minority staff, amounting to just 8.5 per cent. "It is not that we have not been progressing…
WOMEN from ethnic minority communities, who are over-45 and employed in the public sector, are England's most disadvantaged workers, says a recent report which also states that racism is experienced more in public sector than private sector, despite the former having more diversity campaigns. Titled “The Equity Effect”, the…
Senior managers ‘side with families’ despite orders to deny treatment for racist behaviour SOUTH ASIAN doctors have told Eastern Eye that they are being stopped from treating some white patients. Some have taken to social media to complain about white parents and white patients who refuse to be treated by them.…
Dr Hasmukh Shah BEM has been awarded visiting professorship by the University of South Wales, for his long-standing medical contribution to primary care, medical education and Leadership at Wales and in the UK. Since 2017, he has been a visiting fellow at the University. Dr Shah is a leading GP from…
THE former highest-ranking Asian female police in the Metropolitan Police has claimed the force is still institutionally racist, recalling her experiences of discrimination as recently as 2019. Chief superintendent Parm Sandhu was the most senior BAME woman in the capital’s police force, prior to her retirement two years ago. She…
PEOPLE from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds continue to face a range of “unacceptable inequalities” when using health services, a report released on Tuesday (15) said, and called on NHS partners to help close the gap on future health inequalities. As the biggest employer of BAME people in…
By Aled Thomas PEOPLE from minority ethnic communities in Swindon are more likely to contract Covid-19 but less likely to have been vaccinated according to a draft report to be presented to councillor next week. After the setting up of a task group of both councillors and lay members to…
THERE has been much focus on mental health since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, and the rolling lockdowns across the world including the UK, making it tough for people to seek help. This week (June 14-18) being the Loneliness Awareness Week, a moving video has been created by the…
Few or no members from minority ethnic backgrounds feature in some of the UK’s police panels set up to scrutinise stop-and-search incidents, a recent media report claimed. In Staffordshire only one out of 86 people who sit on the independent police scrutiny panels across the force’s Neighbourhood Policing Teams is…
ZERO-HOURS contracts are trapping people from black and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds in low pay and insecure work- a recent joint report by Trades Union Congress and the equality organisation Race on the Agenda (Rota) said- adding that the arrangement is “the most egregious example of one-sided flexibility at work”.…
HALF of all anti-vaxxers in the UK are now jabbed while vaccine confidence has surged among ethnic minorities, a study has found, with numbers tripling among the Muslim community in the country. While people's hesitancy has waned since the Covid-19 vaccine rollout began six months ago, the confidence has doubled…
THE transatlantic solidarity is at its best again. At the time when US President Joe Biden is touring the UK to attend the G7 and Nato summits, the two old allies have agreed to script a new partnership to deal with future threats in the health sector. The UK Health…
CONCERNS have been raised over Deliveroo’s new project to train its riders to spot crimes in the UK, with some claiming that it will give rise to “quasi-police”. The company also faces questions over the safety of its riders, most of whom are from the BAME community, amid allegations that…
EDUCATION leader Hamid Patel, charity boss Javed Khan and period poverty campaigner Amika George are among prominent British Asians named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List unveiled this evening (11). Patel, chief executive officer of Star Academics in Blackburn, a multi-academy trust which operates 30 free schools and academies, is…
THE UK government has reached out to women to know their experiences of the health and care system via a call for evidence which aims at bettering healthcare for women across England. The announcement was made to coincide with the International Women’s Day (March 8) this year to commemorate the…
AWARD-WINNING writer Tanika Gupta is set to premiere her new play on the early life of Mahatma Gandhi at a west London theatre next week. The Overseas Student centres upon Gandhi during his time studying law in the UK, in the years before he became famous for his role in…
Judges accuse lord chief justice of trying to silence them Exclusive A judge who complained about bullying and racism has told Eastern Eye she will quit if the judiciary does not properly consult over a new whistle blowing policy. District Judge Claire Gilham won a seven-year legal battle against the…
THE principal of Dundee University has formally apologised after a report into racism found “prominent concerns” over discrimination. Professor Iain Gillespie said sorry for the bigotry faced by the black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community in a video released on Monday (7). He said he was apologising “on behalf…
OLLIE ROBINSON was suspended from international cricket by the ECB after historical racist and sexist social media posts surfaced on the day of his Test debut against New Zealand last week. Robinson was in his teens when he posted those tweets in 2012 and 2013. At the end of the…
VACCINE uptake has more than tripled among Black British and Asian ethnic communities (BAME) between February and April this year, a survey says, adding that this trend is expected to continue for younger age groups. More people from ethnic and religious groups now intend to say yes to protection from…
SOUTH ASIAN students of Islamic faith often felt that they were subject to ethnic and religious-based anti-education stereotypes and biases, which negatively affected their grades - a study has found. The study also said that black students often have to "work harder" than their peers to connect with assessments and…
WOMEN from socially deprived areas and ethnic minorities are less likely to have a water birth than white women living in affluent areas, according to a recent study which also found no link between waterbirth and specific adverse outcomes for either the mother or the baby. Despite the presence…
Justices told anonymous bullying and racism complaints will not be investigated Exclusive Ethnic minority judges have told Eastern Eye they have no hope of securing justice for themselves against bullying and racism in the UK judiciary. Their comments come after the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, and Sir…
INSTITUTIONAL racism in Metropolitan police is “worse now” than what it was 20 years ago, Parm Sandhu, one of the UK’s former most senior female Asian police officers has claimed, adding that the Met is “not a safe environment for black and Asian officers". “Institutional racism exists in…
HOME SECRETARY Priti Patel has firmly rejected Metropolitan Police chief Dame Cressida Dick's call for "positive discrimination" to be introduced during the recruitment process to hire more people from ethnic minorities. The Met chief proposed applying a form of positive discrimination to increase BAME recruits saying police forces must reflect…
THE Conservative government needs to prioritise engagement with ethnic minority communities, a former MP has said, following a report which found anti-Muslim sentiment “remains a problem” in the Tory party. An independent inquiry, led by Professor Swaran Singh, found a “widespread perception” that the Tories have a “Muslim problem”. The…
TENANTS from black and ethnic minority communities on low incomes live in fear of being evicted from their homes in the next three months, a survey has found, as Britain’s coronavirus eviction ban comes to an end on Monday (31). BAME households with lower incomes, such as those in the…
DOCTORS from BAME background in Wales' NHS "feel unwelcome," a senior doctor has claimed, saying that more voices from ethnic minorities in the profession need to be heard by the Welsh government. Amol Pandit, the co-chair of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Welsh BAME forum and a senior urologist,…
BRITAIN’s Newcastle created history with the appointment of Habib Rahman as the city’s lord mayor on Wednesday (26), making him the first non-white person to hold this position in 800 years. Rahman, whose appointment was delayed by a year because of Covid-19, was formally elected to the post during…
ASPIRING lawyers and judges from underrepresented communities in the UK can apply for paid internships in the Supreme Court, it announced on Thursday (27). The top court has collaborated with charity Bridging the Bar and eight candidates will be offered a five-day placement. CEO of the supreme court, Vicky Fox,…
ASIAN and black babies are more likely to die before they reach their first birthday, when compared to white babies, a study has found, prompting calls by a leading charity to ensure all infants should have the best chance of survival. Figures released on Wednesday (26) by the Office…
THE National Kidney Federation (NKF) and NBTA have organised a webinar to mark the first anniversary of Max and Keira’s Law in England. Leading charities call on Black and Asian communities to continue to talk about organ donation and register their decision, one year on from Max and Keira’s Law…
NEARLY three in ten (29.3 per cent) British students admitted in Cambridge University last year were from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds-up from 27.8 per cent in 2019, its annual admissions statistics show. It also accepted a record proportion of state school pupils in 2020 — 70.6 per…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH INDIANS have spoken of their feelings of helplessness and anxiety about their families amid India’s devastating second Covid-19 wave, as the country continues to battle against the virus. In recent weeks, India has become overwhelmed by the spike in coronavirus cases which has stretched demand in…
THE unemployment rate for black and minority ethnic (BAME) workers has risen three times as fast as for white workers, according to a Trades Union Congress (TUC) analysis of new ONS employment figures published on Tuesday (18). The BAME unemployment rate shot up from 6.3 per cent to 8.9 per…
UK universities have issued a guideline for lecturers for complimenting foreign students’ English. Compliment a foreign student’s English should be avoided by the lecturers as it is a potentially racist “microaggression”, said leading universities. Imperial College London, has issued its staff with a list of phrases to avoid on campus.…
A NEW study has revealed that voting pattern of British Indians in 2021 has now been shifted towards the Conversative Party from Labour in 2019. The study by the 1928 Institute, a University of Oxford backed think-tank, also said that only 8 per cent of British Indians feel accurately represented…
By Tom Dare ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE is being used by Birmingham council to stop ‘unconcious bias’ when finding job applicants, it has been revealed. The move is an effort to improve diversity in the workplace, chiefs said, and has already been used in to council recruitment campaigns, with a third due to…
By Nadeem Badshah COVID certificates could trigger discrimination against ethnic minorities in the jobs market and access to services, academics and campaigners have warned. They have raised concerns about the government considering plans to have documents to prove someone’s vaccine, test or antibody status to enter a sports venue,…
By Seema Malhotra MP THIS week saw a very mixed set of results in the elections, with positive news in different areas for the main parties. There was a strong draw towards the incumbent, whoever that may be. In London, we saw Labour’s Sadiq Khan elected with a historic…
YOUNG black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) riverside residents will benefit from the Blue Connections scheme running in two east London boroughs. Blue Connections, focused on Barking Creek and the River Roding (Thames tributary), aims to improve people’s understanding and appreciation of rivers and boost their skills, employability and mental health.…
THREE new educational awards/scholarships were launched in Scotland in the name of Saroj Lal, a prominent Scottish race relations activist, to promote equality/diversity across education. Lal, a former director of the Lothian Racial Equality Council, passed away on March 12,2020. She was involved with race relations in Scotland since the…
THE UK government has urged women from Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds living in the Midlands, East of England and women over-50 to respond to the government’s call for evidence to to form the first ever women’s health strategy. Over 50,000 women, organisations, clinicians and carers have already responded to…
THE University of Oxford has launched an entrepreneurial fellowship initiative to ensure that more people from black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds reach senior leadership positions within business, start-ups, and venture capital. Baroness Vadera, the chairwoman of Prudential, and Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, are among business leaders backing…
THE racial equity funding by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales for small and local charities that are led by and support black, Asian, and ethnic minority (BAME) communities will open on 20 April. Charities can apply for two-year unrestricted grants of £50,000 alongside development support under the funding…
[caption id="attachment_136684" align="alignleft" width="140"] Nadia Whittome[/caption] by NADIA WHITTOME, Labour MP for Nottingham East AT THE end of March, a government-commissioned report into race in the UK was released. Produced by the Independent Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, it immediately came under fire from academics, campaigners and MPs for…
By Nadeem Badshah FAR-RIGHT groups accused of spewing racial hatred are using computer games to try and radicalise teenagers during lockdown, experts have warned. Researchers have found that UK white nationalist groups are targeting younger recruits and run Call of Duty Warcraft gaming tournaments for its supporters. Hope Not…
THE government’s race report, released last month, could “turn back the clock on the fight against racism,” a healthcare leader has said, as bodies credited in the review distanced themselves from the findings following its publication. The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (CRED) report, published at the end of…
By Dr Qari Asim Imam of Makkah Mosque, Leeds, and senior editor, ImamsOnline [caption id="attachment_136589" align="alignright" width="260"] Dr Qari Asim[/caption] THE Duke of Edinburgh dedicated his life to tireless service of both the Queen and the country. I join the whole nation and the Commonwealth in offering my deepest condolences…
by LAUREN CODLING AN AWARD-WINNING diversity and inclusion expert has revealed insights into her personal and professional experience in the field, sharing stories of failure and success in her new book. Sheree Atcheson is a recognised expert in diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). Currently the global director of DE&I at…
by LAUREN CODLING LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged his support to British Asians in the capital in the run-up to the mayoral elections next month, claiming his policies “address the needs and aspirations of the community”. The Labour candidate is currently contesting his second term in the mayoral election,…
AT LEAST 20 organisations and individuals credited in UK race review have now distanced themselves from the report and its findings alleging that the commission ignored their testimonies. The report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, released at the end of March, concluded that while racism and racial…
By Nadeem Badshah CAMPAIGNERS have demanded cheaper public transport to tackle the pollution crisis, highlighting the fact that ethnic minorities are more likely to live in toxic air hotspots in the UK compared to the wider population. Experts have also called for less reliance on diesel fuel and electric…
By Professor Iqbal Singh OBE THE CRED [Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities] report has three specific recommendations aimed at health. It is important that these specific recommendations are implemented and resourced properly to be able to make a meaningful contribution to addressing health inequalities. Covid-19 has highlighted the hugely…
By Sunder Katwala Director, British Future WHAT Britain needs is a conversation about race, not a shouting match. So, the public debate about the Race and Ethnic Disparities Commission has hardly got off to a good start. The commission’s announcement was greeted it with “inquiry fatigue” – did we…
County to focus on addressing bias and ensuring inclusion in squad By Sattwik Biswal MIDDLESEX Cricket became one of the first clubs in county cricket to launch a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Activation plan, with an aim to ensure broad diversity of the many communities at the club. The launch…
After last year’s exposé, we challenge the judiciary to prove it is not institutionally racist By Barnie Choudhury The judiciary is 20 years behind the Met Police in accepting it is institutionally racist. That is the damning accusation from named and anonymous south Asian, black and white judges. In a…
BRITAIN should be seen as a "model for other white-majority countries" but more still needs to be done, a review into race inequality said on Wednesday (31), a conclusion that provoked fury from critics who branded it a "whitewash". The report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities was…
THERE is “no evidence of institutional racism” in Britain, a new report by the government’s race disparity unit said on Wednesday (31). According to the new report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, the success of much of the ethnic minority population in education, and, to a lesser…
By Adam Morton The Southern Health and Social Care Trust accepts it has “work to do” to ensure the area’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities know how to access the Covid-19 vaccine. The issue was raised at a meeting of the Trust’s Board by Upper Bann MLA, John…
THE City of London Police may soon be recruiting at least 40 per cent of BAME officers to ensure that the force is representative of the community it serves. The City of London Police Authority Board (PAB) has agreed proposals to work with the City of London Police, and using…
IN the UK, only four in ten people (42 per cent) are confident of what BAME means, with a third of people (32 per cent) saying they don't know what it is, according to a new research. The research done by British Future finds out that the ethnic minority participants…
DOCTORS from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds say key risk assessments have still not taken place, or have not been acted on. Of 2,000 doctors who responded to the BBC News poll, 328 said their risks hadn't been assessed at all, while 519 said they had had a…
There has been a conscious attempt in the recent years to make football diverse in every aspect, and it gathered steam during last season in the sport's fight against racism. But curiously, the commentary box lacks diversity and according to a report by Sportsmail, which has found out that of…
A LEAKED report has revealed that the Church of England will introduce a quota for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) clergy, roll out anti-racism training and contextualise church statues. The 'From Lament to Action: Report of the Archbishops' Anti-Racism Taskforce' report, leaked to The Spectator, said there should be 'one…
A NEW report released on Monday (22) revealed that Covid-19 lockdown has boosted the evolution of the British far-right into a digitally networked threat last year. The 'State of Hate 2021' report launched by shadow justice minister David Lammy MP discusses how civil society and institutions must respond to the burgeoning…
BLACK, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers are more likely to be turned down for jobs, pay rises and promotions compared to white workers, a new TUC survey has found. A third (33 per cent) of BAME workers said they have been unfairly turned down for a job, in comparison…
A NEW report has urged that probation services must show greater consideration and confidence in their work with black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) service users and staff. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation found out that the probation service’s focus on racial equality has declined since Transforming Rehabilitation reforms were introduced…
By Atif Choudhury with Raphaele Von Koettlitz IT’S no secret that we all benefit from diversity, both in business and beyond, in terms of increased innovation, productivity, wellbeing and even profitability. For many people, it simply represents a sense of belonging. Yet when you consider we have a disability…
HUGE disparities between vaccination take-up rates in richer and poorer areas revealed inequalities of race and poverty in the UK, experts said. Data showed a 25 per cent difference between vaccination rates in areas just miles apart. According to The Guardian, the vaccine gap was most pronounced in Southwark, south…
By Nadeem Badshah MATERNITY care needs an “urgent” shake-up, according to experts who welcomed an inquiry into how alleged racism in the NHS impacts the care provided to pregnant women. Women from south Asian backgrounds face nearly twice the risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth compared to white women,…
by LAUREN CODLING INFORMED conversations with loved ones could be essential to increase vaccine take-up in some ethnic minority communities, a poll suggested last month. New research by the British Red Cross (BRC) found that Britons from ethnic minority backgrounds are nearly twice as likely to get information on the…
NEW research has revealed ‘significant’ racial disparities in care of heart patients during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic in the UK. Researchers found that people from black or Asian heritage and those from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to be admitted to hospital than their white peers, less…
THE NHS on Monday (8) celebrated the vital role that hundreds of thousands of women have played in the pandemic effort across the service, to mark the International Women’s Day. It hosted a conference on Monday, led by chief people officer Prerana Issar who will be joined by leading women…
The actress reveals her frustrations with TV commissioners Exclusive By Barnie Choudhury The star of Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42, Meera Syal, has appealed to television commissioners to stop using an outdated “quota system” which blocks black and Asian (BAME) talent on screen. During the Asian…
By Amit Roy GOOD old William Shakespeare. He had this great ability to get to the heart of the matter. Take, for example, the name game. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But would Juliet have been quite…
THE GG2 Diversity Conference was held virtually for the first time last Wednesday (24), with a number of inspirational speakers, including campaigners, academics and senior executives, discussing a range of issues. The event was hosted by the Asian Media Group (AMG), which publishes Eastern Eye, Garavi Gujarat, Asian Trader, Pharmacy…
“Vaccine hesitancy” because Asian communities do not trust government, says top doctor Exclusive By Barnie Choudhury Politics is interfering “far too much” with caring for sick patients during the pandemic. That is according to the chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Chaand Nagpaul. Speaking during the second Ramniklal Solanki…
A LEADING finance firm has launched a £4.8 million bursary fund for university students, with 60 per cent of support going to ethnic minorities. JPMorgan Chase and the Sutton Trust announced the endowment fund last week, to improve the access to employability opportunities for underserved, low income and BAME university…
THE black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) only poll of a charity in UK has found that these communities have taken the hardest economic hit during the Coronavirus pandemic. The poll by HOPE not hate Trust has found that one in five BAME people have lost their job during the…
HIGH achievers from Britain’s medical and scientific communities were among top winners at the annual GG2 Leadership awards, held virtually for the first time on Thursday (25). Dr Chaand Nagpaul CBE, chairman of the British Medical Association, won the coveted GG2 Hammer Award, presented to a BAME person who has…
by LAUREN CODLING A FATHER whose daughter was diagnosed with a Covid-19 related syndrome affecting children has warned parents to be aware of symptoms, as data suggests the disease may disproportionately affect those from an ethnic minority background. Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PIMS) is a new illness, in which children…
THE BBC drama, A Suitable Boy, was the big winner at last week’s Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTA), which celebrate the best of Asian talent in the creative industries. The primetime TV series, based on Vikram Seth’s novel of the same name, won three awards –…
THE BBC on Wednesday(24) announced the 2021-23 diversity and inclusion plan to become the most inclusive and diverse workforce in the media sector. Under the plan,the broadcaster wants to create a more diverse leadership team, boost career opportunities for people from all backgrounds, overhaul recruitment processes and increase accessibility for…
A NEW report has revealed that half of black, Asian and minority ethnic students (BAME) have experienced racism at the University of Glasgow 'more than twice' since beginning their studies. Following the report, the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof Sir Anton Muscatelli, apologised 'unreservedly' to staff and students who have experienced racism…
By Seema Malhotra Labour MP for Feltham and Heston, and shadow employment minister AS THE shadow minister for employment, I have been working hard to hold the government to account on supporting young people into work during this crisis. Figures published last month show that more than 620,000 16- to…
Despite stark failures in curbing Covid-19's spread, Britain has scored a notable success with its mass vaccination drive, giving 15 million people a first dose by Sunday. Here are some of the factors behind the speedy rollout. - Early backing - In May 2020 the UK government signed a deal…
By George Willoughby AN INVESTIGATION by Eastern Eye can reveal that police stop and search an Asian person every 10 minutes in England and Wales. The latest Home Office figures show officers stopped more than 57,800 Asians in the year ending March 2020. That is nearly up 46…
by LAUREN CODLING LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has reiterated the importance of ethnic minority communities engaging with the coronavirus vaccine programme, as he visited a new NHS immunisation centre at a temple in the city last Thursday (4). Khan hopes the new immunisation hub at Kingsbury Temple in northwest London…
SHIVUM KAKKAD and his family have joined an NHS campaign urging families to talk about organ donation. His father Bharat, who died of cardiac arrest at 63, had donated a kidney to a woman in her 50s and a kidney to a man in his 60s. Bharat fell ill suddenly in…
THE UK has started four new projects to find out the reasons why people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Findings from these projects will be used to design health interventions, policy recommendations, and other measures to help lessen the…
by LAUREN CODLING AUTHOR Nikesh Shukla hopes his new memoir will drive conversations on “the issues which keep him up at night”. Brown Baby is addressed to his eldest child and details Shukla’s thoughts and experiences with racism, sexism, parenting as well as the pain of losing his mother. In…
By Murtuza Iqbal A couple of days ago, there were reports that the shooting of Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna starrer Mission Majnu will kickstart in Lucknow soon. And today, the film went on the floors. RSVP movies, who are producing the film, took to Instagram to inform everyone about…
DOCTORS in the UK have said that up to 100 children are being hospitalised in a week with a rare disease that emerges weeks after Covid-19. They added that 75 per cent of the children worst affected by the disease is from black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) backgrounds, When…
by LAUREN CODLING MORE than half of ethnic minority psychiatrists have faced racism at work, new research revealed last month. Six in ten ethnic minority psychiatrists have faced overt or covert racism at work – but only 29 per cent of these incidents were reported, according to the Royal College…
by LAUREN CODLING DOCTORS have urged action to tackle “unjust” inequalities faced by BAME groups as new research found discrepancies in health-related outcomes between minorities and white Britons. Those of Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Arab, and Gypsy or Irish Traveller backgrounds were considered to have a 20-year age difference in their health…
THE policy and resources committee of the Square Mile governing body has accepted a series of ‘comprehensive and decisive’ actions recommended by the City of London Corporation’s Tackling Racism Taskforce. The committee also agreed the Taskforce’s recommendation to set up a working group to oversee the removal and re-siting of…
PEOPLE from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups in the UK should be included in the second phase of the priority vaccine distribution, at the same time as white adults in at-risk health groups, doctors’ groups urged. The coalition of ethnic minority healthcare groups has written a letter to…
England cricketers―both men and women―will undergo anti-racism training courses this year after a survey revealed that more than one-third of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) players have faced the prejudice in the game. According to a report in The Telegraph the courses will cover dressing room culture, raise awareness…
Prof Kailash Chand OBE FRCGP Honorary vice-president of the British Medical Association (BMA) THE start of 2021 has hardly been what the public expected, because it seems obvious that the virus has come back at us with a vengeance. However, there is hope in the form of three vaccines,…
by LAUREN CODLING MORE than 100,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Britain, figures revealed on Tuesday (26), amid calls for ministers to take stronger action to increase the uptake of vaccines among ethnic minorities. “It’s hard to compute the sorrow contained in that grim statistic, the years of life…
by LAUREN CODLING AN INDEPENDENT body set up to investigate the effect of ethnicity on people’s health has been described as a “catalyst for change” by its director, as board members met virtually for the first time last week. Hosted by the NHS Confederation, the NHS Race and Health Observatory…
IN A new video celebrities team up to encourage the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in the UK to save lives and take the Covid-19 vaccine. The video titled ‘If You Could Save Someone’s Life…’ includes actors Adil Ray, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Boman Irani, Asim Chaudhry, Shobna Gulati,…
Miss England and frontline National Health Service (NHS) doctor Bhasha Mukherjee has received her first of the two COVID-19 jabs and endorsed the safety of the vaccines being rolled out among those most at risk from coronavirus. The 25-year-old beauty queen and a medical professional has been working on the…
THE new £7.6million health and wellbeing fund will support 19 projects to promote nutrition, learning, language development and mental health during pregnancy and post birth in black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. Set up across the country, these 19 projects include a number of innovative schemes aimed at levelling…
UK broadcaster Sky has pledged that one in five of its staff will be from a minority ethnic background by 2025, and it would recruit 1,500 black, Asian and minority ethnic(BAME) workers during the period. Sky moves to reshape its 25,000-strong workforce in the UK and Ireland, partly in response…
A new research has revealed that six in ten black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) psychiatrists have faced racism at work, but only 29 per cent of these incidents were reported. The BAME psychiatrists who have experienced racism said that it affected their health and four in ten (41 per…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIANS have been urged to take the coronavirus vaccine as doctors expressed concerns that “fake news” was causing many from the community to reject it. Rumours claiming that the vaccines contain alcohol and animal products (such as beef and pork) have been circulating on social media and…
The national treasure tells us how she beat up racists, and why she is optimistic for the future for Asian artists by Barnie Choudhury Meera Syal is ferociously funny, intensely intelligent, and she has an edgier side that shows off her campaigning spirit for equality. Let’s get one thing clear.…
A landmark survey launched on Tuesday(19) to investigate racism and its impact on the mental wellbeing of black, Asian and minority ethnic(BAME) people working or studying in the UK veterinary sector. The ‘Race Together’ survey - open for participation until 31 March 2021 - will examine both overt and ‘everyday…
THE Metropolitan Police has said that 52 per cent of the new recruits for the direct entry detective scheme in 2020 were females. Besides, 30 per cent of the applications received in November 2020 under the scheme, which started in 2017, were from black, Asian and minority ethnic(BAME) candidates. The…
UK’s largest children’s charity Barnardo’s offers a specialist helpline to support black, Asian and minority ethnic(BAME) families during lockdown in the UK. The charity launched ‘Boloh’ helpline (0800 151 2605) to support vulnerable children and families in November last year. Eastern Eye reported that it was the first helpline specifically…
By Nadeem Badshah LEADING Asian restaurant bosses and chefs have urged ministers to provide more cash to save jobs and businesses from the Covid-19 crisis. Eateries across the country have been forced to close since November under lockdown rules and owners warned that many will be unable to survive without…
By Reena Barai National Pharmacy Association board member A POLL in December by the Royal Society of Public Health showed that three in four people would take a Covid jab, but only 55 per cent of respondents of Asian ethnicity said they would likely say yes to being vaccinated. The…
By Imam Qari Asim THE pandemic has changed life for all of us. It’s been a challenging year since coronavirus first entered our homes, but there is light at the end of the tunnel with the roll out of new vaccines. However, we must all work together to ensure that…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asians with a disability have been among the hardest hit during the coronavirus pandemic, experts have pointed out. Charities have highlighted the closure of face-to face-support services and how vulnerable people were feeling lonely after being isolated from loved and carers while shielding. The death…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN communities need tailored and culturally sensitive support services to tackle mental health issues, doctors have said, as studies showed how the pandemic has led to a surge in those seeking help. In December, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said ethnic groups suffered a “triple whammy…
THE City Mental Health Alliance (CMHA) has launched a mental health and race toolkit to help businesses to protect and support the mental health of their black, Asian and minority ethnic employees. The four strategic actions listed in the toolkit are challenging all forms of racism in the workplace, build…
LABOUR MP Apsana Begum has asked the government to reassess vaccination priorities in light of pandemic BAME community statistics. “The mortality rate from Covid-19 among people of black, African descent in English hospitals was 3.5 times higher when compared to rates among white British people. Besides, people of Bangladeshi ethnicity…
By Barnie Choudhury SENIOR south Asian doctors have accused the government of failing to protect the most vulnerable frontline health workers. Their comments came during an end-of-year virtual roundtable on the government’s handling of the pandemic. Board members of the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, told Eastern…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIANS have been urged to adhere to coronavirus guidelines as data showed positive cases were higher in their community than any other ethnic group in some areas of the UK. The warning comes as England began its third Covid lockdown on Tuesday (5), with the government calling…
Revealed: Anger among vulnerable Asian frontline medics who have not been vaccinated By Barnie Choudhury SENIOR south Asian doctors have accused the government of failing to protect the most vulnerable frontline health workers. Their comments came during an end of year virtual roundtable regarding the government’s handling of the pandemic.…
A NEW study has revealed that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people were hit hard by the crisis in the hospitality compared to white people as a majority of them are employed in the sector. The study by Resolution Foundation thinktank has said that one in 12 (8 per cent)…
TWO former umpires from a BAME background have sued the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for alleged racial discrimination and sought damages. Prominent black British umpire in English cricket John Holder and former first-class cricketer and reserve umpire Ismail Dawood have demanded compensation and a recommendation on the ECB’s…
A LEADING musician, community leaders, campaigners and choreographers are among Asians honoured in the Queen’s New Year Honours List, announced this evening (30). This year’s is the most ethnically diverse list yet, with 14.2 per cent of recipients coming from a black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) background. In total,…
Dr Raj Persaud ASIANS are more likely to die from Covid-19 compared with other ethnic groups, yet according to the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), only 57 per cent of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are presently likely to accept a vaccine. Compared to 79…
By Amit Roy MURSHEDA CHOWDHURY, who has been a doctor for 25 years and is of Bangladeshi origin herself, has highlighted some shocking health statistics – especially for Bangladeshi men – that have been exposed by the pandemic. What Covid-19 has done is to shine a light on structural racism…
by LAUREN CODLING LEADING doctors have said there is no need for panic as they sought to reassure Asians about the new variant of the coronavirus which has led to tighter restrictions in London and parts of south-east England. Dr Kailash Chand said the new variant was predicted by scientists…
Dr FARZANA HUSSAIN ANSWERS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE AND HOW IT CAN HELP US GET LIFE BACK ON TRACK FRONTLINE healthcare staff and the elderly were among the first group of people to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as the UK began its immunisation drive on December 8. The…
ETHNIC minority groups are the least likely to want the coronavirus vaccine, a new poll has revealed. A little more than half (57 per cent) of respondents from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds were likely to accept a vaccine, compared to 79 per cent of white respondents, according…
By Amit Roy BLACK and Asian history is to be taught at Roedean, one of Britain’s top public schools for girls, its headmaster, Oliver Blond, has said. This radical step has been warmly welcomed by the Indian-origin author and human rights activist, Zerbanoo Gifford. She was at Roedean herself from…
By Jon Ashworth Labour MP for Leicester South and shadow health and social care secretary THE pictures last week of 90-year-old Margaret Keenan, the first person in Britain to receive the Covid vaccine from May Parsons, a nurse who came to work in our NHS from the Philippines (pictured together,…
MPs call for independent inquiry after BAME producer attempts suicide By Barnie Choudhury Asian and black MPs have called for a parliamentary investigation into bullying and racism at the BBC. It comes after Eastern Eye revealed that a black BBC freelance producer tried to take their life after they complained…
A NEW study has revealed that almost half of schools in England have no black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) teachers. It added that even in diverse schools, leadership teams are almost always white. The study by researchers at University College London's(UCL) Institute for Education has further stated that though there…
Barnie Choudhury A BBC freelance producer tried to end their life last month over "continued bullying" within the broadcaster, Eastern Eye has exclusively learned. The employee then wrote a 1,500-word “open letter” explaining to senior BBC leaders, in excruciating detail, about the suicide attempt. “On Wednesday evening 25th November I attempted to take…
AS MANY AS 159 black, Asian and and minority ethnic (BAME)-led organisations in the UK will get £7 million funding from a Covid-19 crisis fund. These organisations are delivering sorely-needed services such as food banks, mental health support and assistance for domestic violence victims, in communities disproportionately affected by the…
By Dr Julian W Tang Honorary associate professor and clinical virologist respiratory sciences, University of Leicester SO, A Covid-19 vaccine has finally arrived in the form of a new mRNA type of vaccine, from Pfizer-BioNTech (a US-German collaboration). But there is not a lot of it yet and the question right…
By Professor Kailash Chand Former Deputy Chair British Medical Association BRITAIN is the first country to authorise emergency use of a vaccine for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. This vaccine is the first of its type. Traditional vaccines are made up of small or inactivated doses of the…
by LAUREN CODLING COMMUNITY leaders have questioned why ethnic minority groups have not been prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine, as the UK became the first country in the world to roll out the immunisation on Tuesday (8). As Eastern Eye went to press, the shot became available at 50 hospitals…
THE UK’s biggest children’s charity, Barnardo's, has hit back at Tory MPs who were upset about its blogpost discussing racial inequality and white privilege. Barnardo’s said its chief executive Javed Khan, who is of Asian origin, had been the target of “explicit racism” following the blogpost. The row was sparked…
A STUDY has found out that some of England’s most ethnically diverse areas have suffered up to four times more coronavirus infections than mostly white neighbourhoods. There has been huge disparities in the effect of Covid-19 on residents living alongside one another, with densely packed black, Asian and minority ethnic…
PREET KAUR GILL, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, has won the MP of the Year award instituted by diversity and inclusion charity Patchwork Foundation. She has been recognised for her consistent championing of young people, representation of the Sikh Community and her initiative to tackle Fuel Poverty via a strategic campaign…
By NADEEM BADSHAH GPs will see patients and also administer Covid vaccine LEADING GPs have called for support to help them deal with “workload pressures” during the upcoming rollout of a coronavirus vaccine. Family doctors are set for a hectic few months with a Covid-19 jab expected to be unveiled…
by LAUREN CODLING CORONAVIRUS cases are rising in areas with high Asian populations as local authorities voiced concerns about infections increasing within multi-generation households, one week before England is due to lift its lockdown restrictions. Government figures on Monday (23) revealed that infection rates increased within areas with a substantial…
By Nadeem Badshah THE number of British Asians taking apprenticeships has increased each year since 2015 while the figure has dropped among people from other backgrounds, new figures have revealed. Some 5.5 per cent of people of south Asian origin, 21,370 individuals, signed up for the training schemes in…
by LAUREN CODLING LEADING doctors have slammed ministers for “paying lip service” to ethnic minorities after new analysis confirmed previous findings that BAME groups are at higher risk of infection and dying from coronavirus. People of Asian ethnicity are 1.5 times more likely than white people to be infected, analysis…
by LAUREN CODLING BRITISH ASIANS have been urged to take part in vaccination trials to protect against the coronavirus, as data revealed fewer than five per cent of volunteers were from the community. The participation call comes as phase three clinical trials of pharmaceutical firm Janssen’s Covid-19 vaccine began across…
by LAUREN CODLING THE West Midlands mayor has praised ethnic groups for their compliance during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying it was a “strong reflection of the unity of communities” in the region. The comments from Andy Street follow the release of new research, which showed that local authority areas which…
TWO former umpires have accused the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of institutional racism and called for an independent investigation by the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). John Holder, who stood in 11 Tests and 19 one-day internationals in nearly 30 years as a professional umpire, and…
THE Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Steering Group (JHOD) and NHS Blood & Transplant (NHSBT) have organised a national arts competition to promote organ donation as part of Diwali celebrations. The competition was held to create awareness about the recent law change and encourage more people from BAME communities, and…
BRITAIN’s biggest police force must hire 40 per cent of new recruits from ethnic minority backgrounds, while officers will have to justify stop and search to community panels as part of a major race action plan unveiled on Friday(13). The plan will set the Met a target for new recruits,…
A NEW report has found out that black, Asian and minority-ethnic (BAME) police officers are treated more harshly than their white colleagues when a complaint is made against them. A National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) report revealed that BAME officers were subjected to 'unfounded investigations' based on poor evidence and…
A NEW study has found out that Covid-19 pandemic was psychologically more challenging for women and ethnic minorities than men as they reported higher levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness, and lower levels of life satisfaction. The Covid-19 social study by the University College London is the UK's largest which…
By Shaun Bailey Conservative candidate for London Mayor WHATEVER our religion and whatever our background, we’re all learning to deal with lockdown and coronavirus restrictions. So it goes without saying that the new normal will affect the celebration of light and new beginnings. But that doesn’t mean Diwali and Bandi…
A UK thinktank has urged the government to do more to protect black, Asian and ethnic minority communities as their finances have suffered more than those of white Britons due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While responding to a poll from YouGov 45 per cent of people from BAME communities said their…
New scheme will tackle 'unconscious bias' and lack of opportunity for BAME youngsters, says cricket coach A NEW initiative tacking inequality in cricket, delivering a holistic mentoring programme to children, will be launched in January 2021 by Croydon-based coach and digital marketing consultant, Trevor Fordyce. PACE (Partnership Achieving Cricket Equality)…
A NEW study has found out that female ethnic barristers are the lowest-earning as they are less likely to be recommended to clients. The research by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) has revealed that 'favouritism around work allocation' is one of the reasons for the pay disparity. Factors such as a…
THE human rights watchdog in the UK will examine racial inequalities in healthcare sector in the country to find out why lower-paid health and social care workers from ethnic minorities are at greater risk from coronavirus. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will look at the experiences of health…
By Sunder Katwala British Future IT WILL be a very different Remembrance Sunday this weekend, with local parades and services cancelled and the annual service at the Cenotaph closed to the public for the first time in its history. Many people will mark a two-minute silence from their doorsteps at…
WITH the retirement of Lady Black of Derwent over the Christmas break, UK Supreme Court now only has one woman and no BAME representation. To fill the gap, the country's top court seeks a minority justice to 'boost diversity of decision makers', reports The Telegraph. According to the court, the selection…
High-flying international CEOs do not often come in a more thoughtful and engaging form than Salman Amin, who heads up pladis Global and dominates the biscuit scene in the UK. His vast experience makes Amin a touchstone of wisdom and a clear voice in an uncertain time, especially because he…
UK’s largest children’s charity Barnardo’s has launched 'Boloh' helpline (0800 151 2605) to support vulnerable black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) children and families during the four-week national lockdown starts on Thursday(5). The helpline provides therapeutic support, a live web chat facility, and a lifeline to communities struggling to deal…
THE first British-born, Asian male children's nurse in the UK has received prime minister Boris Johnson’s daily Points of Light award. Rohit Sagoo founded 'British Sikh Nurses' charity in 2015 to bridge the gap between the NHS and people from South Asian backgrounds by highlighting issues such as mental health,…
By Dal Babu THE Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has shone a light on how organisations are responding to the geological pace of racial equality. But unconscious bias training, a mandatory requirement in many organisations, is being thrown under the bus. The concept of ‘unconscious bias’ is a phrase…
A NEW REPORT has found out that young and ethnic minority workers in the UK will be hit hard by the post-furlough unemployment. The Resolution Foundation survey of about 6,000 adults has revealed that 19 per cent of 18-24 year olds who were furloughed during lockdown were unemployed in September. For…
LONDON MAYOR Sadiq Khan on Wednesday(28) said that he would not accept the damaging government proposal to widen the congestion charge zone as would have a 'devastating effect' on London’s diverse communities who are already 'disproportionately' affected by the pandemic. The government wants to extend a £15 charge to the…
THE UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and India's department of biotechnology(DBT), under the federal ministry of science and technology, has launched joint fund of £8 million to understand the severity of Covid-19 in South Asians in both the countries. Through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Economic and Social Research…
THE Labour party on Tuesday(27) urged the government to take urgent action to protect black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people from a second spike of Covid-19 over winter as a new report revealed the impact the pandemic has already had on communities across the country. The new report by…
Dr RAGHIB ALI, who advises Britain on ethnicity and Covid, has said that 'structural racism' is not a 'reasonable explanation' for black and south Asian people's greater risk of illness and death. He added that it is time to stop using ethnicity when deciding who needed help, and urged the…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN families have been encouraged to consider adoption, as figures show children from ethnic minority backgrounds often wait the longest to be placed. Data from the Department of Education shows that 240 children from BAME backgrounds waited more than 18 months to be adopted since entering care.…
Fears of 650 job losses for Asian and black civil servants in former foreign aid department EXCLUSIVE By Barnie Choudhury THE UK government is “shooting itself in the foot” and is in danger of creating a less stable world. That is the warning from Britain’s former most senior Asian civil…
By Harris Bokhari THE recent Black Lives Matter protests have highlighted the ongoing inequalities that are faced by black communities across the UK. Over the last four honour rounds we have seen the number of BAME recipients consistently decline, so the timing of the most ethnically diverse honours list to…
New figures show over one in five in intensive care with COVID is Asian By Barnie Choudhury Leaders of doctors’ groups have accused the government of “letting down” south Asian communities in its handling of the pandemic. Their criticism comes as new figures show that in the past month, 170…
LONDON MAYOR Sadiq Khan declared City Hall a committedly anti-racist organisation on Tuesday(13), and urged employers and businesses to do more to embed anti-racist practices in their operations and culture. He also unveiled a toolkit which offers practical guidance to businesses to help diversify their workforce and foster a truly…
BLACK and South Asian patients are more severely affected by Covid-19 than white patients as the way the body functions is a more important factor than poverty or existing health problems, says a new study. The study of 1,800 hospital patients, carried out at King's College Hospital in south-east London,…
By Harris Bokhari [caption id="attachment_81760" align="alignright" width="300"] Harris Bokhari[/caption] The recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations have highlighted the ongoing inequalities faced by Black communities across the UK. Over the last four honour rounds we have seen the number of BAME recipients consistently decline, so the timing of the most ethnically…
Businessmen, frontline healthcare staff as well as charity workers and volunteers are among Asians in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List, whose publication in June was delayed in order to recognise “unsung heroes” of the coronavirus pandemic. Billionaire brothers Zuber Vali Issa and Mohsin Issa, who last week acquired Asda…
by Rosie Manku I’VE just finished watching five episodes of a show back-to-back. Honestly, it was a relief to escape the doom and gloom of a world on fire for a while. Binge-watching shows is not especially worthy of comment, but what stopped me in my tracks was a realisation…
By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asian entrepreneurs have been praised by businesses and MPs for their work in trying to save the planet by tackling climate change. Thirty tech start-ups addressing green issues have been chosen to join the world-first Net Zero support programme, business and energy secretary Alok Sharma recently…
By Sailesh Mehta JUDGES are human. They do not just interpret the law, they are required to bring their judgment to a knotty mix of legal, ethical and political problems. Important cases would have been decided differently 50 years ago because society thinks and lives differently now, and judicial thinking…
By S Neeraj Krishna CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY is set to introduce "unconscious bias" training for staff along with plans to “diversify the curriculum”. The university, which saw a threefold increase in black students over the past three years, said it will also offer students “a wider choice of authors to study”.…
THE Royal College of Midwives has called for “focus on race equality”, highlighting that maternity staff from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds face were more likely to face bullying and barriers at work. Gill Walton, chief executive of the RCM, told hundreds of delegates during its virtual annual conference…
By S Neeraj Krishna THE UK Supreme Court president hopes to see a justice from an ethnic minority background before he retires in six years, observing that it will be “shameful” to ignore the lack of diversity in judiciary. Lord Reed, who succeeded Lady Hale earlier this year, also urged…
By S Neeraj Krishna A LONDON barrister has been reprimanded and fined £750 after he allegedly made “rude” comments suggesting that an Asian female judge got the role because of “positive discrimination”. A disciplinary tribunal heard that Timothy Becker had made the comments referring to “Deputy District Judge Hussain” in…
By Chris Gee, Local Democracy Reporting Service ALMOST 30 per cent of black, Asian and minority ethnic hospital workers in Bolton reported abuse from patients or visitors in the past year, a new report has revealed. Bolton Hospital NHS Trust has published a Workforce Race Equality report which showed that…
By S Neeraj Krishna SADIQ KHAN has called for urgent action to tackle “stark inequalities” as a City Hall study warned black, Asian and minority ethnic Londoners faced a significantly higher Covid death risk. Commissioned by the London mayor, the report published on Thursday (1) said black people and men…
By Professor Iqbal Singh OBE COVID-19 has had a devastating impact and highlighted the huge structural inequalities that exist in the UK. In fact, the pandemic has accentuated many of these differences. In the UK, there has been increasing concern about the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 has had on BAME…
By Professor Mahendra G Patel AS WE enter a new period of restrictions following a rise in Covid-19 cases; and with the onset of winter just around the corner and no clear idea of when a vaccine might be available, it has never been more important to take what measures…
LORD BILIMORIA, the first ethnic minority president of the confederation of British industry (CBI), launched a campaign on Wednesday(30) to increase the numbers of black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) directors on the boards of top UK companies. The drive-Change the Race Ratio- targets at least one BAME board member at…
Asian staff in despair as select committee MPs question Davie by BARNIE CHOUDHURY SOUTH ASIAN staff have told Eastern Eye their boss is in denial about the extent of racism in the BBC. The director general, Tim Davie, appeared before MPs on Tuesday (29) for a marathon session about the…
COUNTY CLUB Essex has said that it will improve 'cultural education' of players after the 'beer pouring' incident at Lord's. Essex player Will Buttleman poured beer over his Muslim team-mate Feroze Khushi on Sunday(27) during the Bob Willis Trophy celebrations. Khushi, 21, was 12th man in the final in which…
By Professor Iqbal Singh OBE FRCP Covid-19 has had a devastating impact and highlighted the huge structural inequalities that exist in the UK; in fact the pandemic has accentuated many of these differences. In the UK there has been increasing concern about the disproportionate impact Covid-19 has on BAME communities.…
by LAUREN CODLING A PHOTOGRAPHER featured in a community project aiming to create a “unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown” has spoken of her desire to show “some light in the darkness of the coronavirus crisis”. The Hold Still project, launched by the National Portrait Gallery, has received…
By Bhavini Makwana BEING told as a teenager that I would go blind was a complete shock and a devastating experience. The consultant said there was no treatment or cure, I would go blind and it could take years, months or weeks. With no exposure to sight loss or other…
By S Neeraj Krishna PEOPLE from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities face a “double whammy” of higher health and financial risks due to the pandemic than the general population, a UK think-thank has cautioned. Research by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said people from BAME groups were…
by LAUREN CODLING A HEALTHCARE worker has revealed the “living nightmare” of being put on the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) immigration status by the Home Office, as migrant groups called for the condition to be scrapped. Sonia Rawal*, 36, has been put on NRPF twice after applying…
by LAUREN CODLING DOCTORS in the UK have warned of the impact a second coronavirus wave would have on the BAME community, claiming the population “remains at higher risk of serious ill health and dying from Covid-19.” [caption id="attachment_96950" align="alignleft" width="231"] Dr Chaand Nagpaul[/caption] Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the…
EXCLUSIVE By Barnie Choudhury A FORMER shadow minister has demanded that the head of the BBC “takes control” of tackling racism in the corporation. Following an Eastern Eye exposé about the experiences of current and former BBC employees earlier this month (September 9), the Labour MP for Brent Central, Dawn…
By S Neeraj Krishna LABOUR MP Marsha de Cordova believes the party should “really move away” from using “a blob of the term BAME” to describe minority ethnic groups in the UK Speaking at online Labour meet on Sunday (20), the shadow women and equalities secretary said the blanket categorisation…
By S Neeraj Krishna YOUNG men from black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities were facing a "disproportionate impact" of "unclear and ambiguous" Covid regulations being enforced in the UK, a parliamentary committee has observed. Reports on Monday (21) said the Joint Committee on Human Rights said it was "unacceptable" that…
By S Neeraj Krishna HEALTH and social leaders in the UK have cautioned that action to tackle disproportionate impact of the pandemic is “needed now more than ever”. Concerns were raised over the weekend as reports said one-third of Covid-19 patients in intensive care were from black, Asian and minority…
By S Neeraj Krishna THE UK has launched an “action plan” to increase diversity in the legal system and ensure it “truly reflects” all sections of society. The Judicial Diversity Forum (JDF), led by legal luminaries, has chalked out a raft of measures to encourage more women and people from…
By Raoul Walawalker AFTER Black Lives Matters (BLM) protesters took to the streets worldwide following the death of George Floyd on May 25, the toppling of slave trader Edward Colston’s statue in Bristol should not have come as such a surprise. But while several petitions to end the commemoration of…
THE BBC has recorded a dip in viewership among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, according its annual report. The broadcaster also saw a decline over the past year in popularity rate among young viewers, and in the North and Midlands regions. According to its annual analysis, the volume of BAME…
COMEDIAN Jim Davidson suffered social media fury after posting a YouTube rant titled ‘Who Needs Variety?’ aimed at dance troupe Diversity. He suggested that the troupe should really do a routine about black adult men mugging people, which attracted immediate response from people on Social Media. The 66-year-old also accused…
By S Neeraj Krishna TWENTY-FIVE charities supporting domestic abuse victims and their families during the pandemic will receive a “£1 million boost” to sustain their work, the UK government said on Wednesday (16). The allocation is part of a £10 million emergency fund announced earlier to “support those providers facing…
by LAUREN CODLING ASIAN healthcare staff have revealed the stress and exhaustion they have suffered during the pandemic, as data revealed the BAME workforce is suffering from increased mental health problems during the crisis. In interviews with Eastern Eye, a number of doctors have revealed the trauma of seeing BAME…
NEARLY half of black, Asian and minority ethnic sociology staff (46 per cent) at UK’s educational institutions have experienced or witnessed “racism, discrimination, harassment or hostility” from students and colleagues when teaching about race and ethnicity, a new report has revealed. The study commissioned by the British Sociological Association also…
AS the UK government’s Lighthouse laboratories are trying to clear a backlog of 185,000 tests, people in England's worst-hit Covid-19 hotspots, including regions which have significant BAME presence, find it 'too difficult' to get tests. Unavailability of manpower t walk-in centres, drive-through facilities or for home delivery was cited as…
HOSPITAL cleaners and other healthcare workers in departments deemed lower risk were more than twice likely to have been infected with Covid-19 than intensive care medics, according to a study of several British hospitals at the peak of the pandemic. The research also noted that that people of black, Asian…
AN ISLAMIC charity has launched a website to encourage British Muslims to learn more about organ donation, after one of its surveys found 75 per cent of the community had never discussed the subject with anyone. New Horizons in British Islam -- which engages in critical discussions on Muslim identity, traditions and reforms --…
By Nadeem Badshah URGENT action is needed to support victims whose relatives pretend to have an illness in order to control them, according to charities and experts. With schools reopening for the first time since March, they have called for teachers to be on alert for “emotional abuse” being…
By Raj Patel MBE Board member of the National Pharmacy Association and owner of Hollowood Chemists COMMUNITY pharmacies are a familiar and much loved feature of Britain’s high streets. Valued by the communities we serve, we supply vital medicines to millions of people, including the most vulnerable, as well…
By Aaqil Ahmed TIM DAVIE has started work as the new director-general of the BBC at what is a crucial time for the organisation. [caption id="attachment_114245" align="alignright" width="199"] Aaqil Ahmed[/caption] There are many challenges that he and the BBC face – from changing audience viewing and listening patterns and desires,…
MPs call for public inquiry amid fresh allegations of bias by ‘scared’ Asian staff by Barnie Choudhury THE BBC’s new director general, Tim Davie, will be questioned by MPs over claims of “insidious, toxic and covert racism” in the corporation after Eastern Eye’s exposé last week prompted further complaints from current and…
By Raj Patel MBE, board member of the National Pharmacy Association and owner of Hollowood Chemists [caption id="attachment_113976" align="alignright" width="200"] Raj Patel[/caption] Community pharmacies are a familiar and much loved feature of Britain’s high streets. Valued by the communities we serve, we supply vital medicines to millions of people, including…
By Sir Ed Davey Leader of the Liberal Democrats IT’S AN incredibly humbling thing to be elected leader of a party I joined 30 years ago. I joined the Liberal Democrats back then because of what it stood for – fairness and equality, social justice and internationalism. I joined…
EXPERTS have called for long-term, targeted intervention as the learning gap between the richest and poorest pupils in Britain has expanded by at least 46 per cent since March, according to a new study. The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) said the figure was “likely to be an underestimate”,…
By Barnie Choudhury SENIOR South Asian staff, with more than 200 years of combined experience working for the BBC, have accused the corporation of decades of “systemic, structural and institutional racism”. Eastern Eye has spent the past week speaking to about 20 current and former south Asian reporters, correspondents, producers…
A British Sikh soldier’s promotion within the UK Army ranks has become a social media sensation after the news posted by his proud wife attracted thousands of messages and comments. Corporal Chamandeep Singh, a Punjab-born soldier in the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) of the British Army, attended a military school…
By Rosie Carter Senior policy officer HOPE not hate charitable trust THIS year will be remembered for one thing – the Covid-19 pandemic and what it revealed about Britain. We saw the sacrifice of our frontline health and care staff; a new-found appreciation of the people whose work we too…
THE UK government launched a new £3.3 million fund to improve outcomes for mothers and babies in deprived areas or from BAME backgrounds from preconception to up to 2.5 years. Three year projects in England aimed at tackling obesity, reducing smoking and improving learning among mothers and young babies run…
ABOUT two-thirds of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds believe police forces are biased against them, a study has revealed. The survey by Hope Not Hate found four out of five black and Bangladeshi Britons feel “police are biased against people from my background and ethnic group”, and…
Whilst there may not be as many Asian footballers playing in England as some people would like, there are still a few making an impact in the country. Quite why British Asians are generally underrepresented in professional football remains something of a mystery and it will hopefully be rectified in…
by LAUREN CODLING “IMMEDIATE” action is needed to protect ethnic minority communities ahead of a potential second Covid-19 wave, a Labour party task force said on Monday (17), as an inquiry described the impact of the virus on people from a BAME background as an “urgent medical emergency”. The task…
UK researchers have urged elderly people and volunteers from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to sign up to a Covid-19 vaccine trial registry to boost efforts to find a working vaccine. Government officials said on Monday (17) that over 100,000 people registered to take part in trials, adding that…
A TORY councillor who blamed the black, Asian and minority ethnic communities for a spike in Covid-19 cases has lost his role in a housing association in Greater Manchester. Bob Allen, who was also suspended by the Conservative Party, had sparked outrage after he ranted online against minorities and the…
THE World’s largest home antibody testing programme for Coronavirus has revealed 'far higher' rates of infection in people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. According to the findings, published by The Imperial College London on Thursday (13) people from Black (17 per cet), Asian (12 per cent) and other…
EMERGENCY grants of £1 million will be provided to black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, it was announced on Tuesday (11). The Phoenix Fund, opened by Global Fund for Children (GFC) and The National Lottery Community Fund, will also look to support BAME leadership across England. Survey data from…
LABOUR MP Dawn Butler has accused the Met Police of racial profiling, after she and a male friend were pulled over while driving through Hackney in a "nice car" on Sunday (9). The former shadow equalities minister said there was "institutional racism in the police", adding that it was "about…
ETHNIC MINORITIES in the UK are twice as likely to have lost jobs and a third more likely to face financial distress due to the pandemic compared with the national average, a new survey has found. Covering solely black, Asian, minority ethnic communities, the study by HOPE not hate showed…
SENIOR LEADERS of NHS trusts and public bodies have backed the UK’s “first national pledge” to reduce ethnic inequalities in mental health care, and transform medical systems to be “less institutionally racist”. Spearheaded by the national initiative Synergi Collaborative Centre, the pledge -- a “Statement of Intent” – was launched…
THE pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK's ethnic minority communities because of long-standing racial and socio-economic inequalities, according to a survey published on Wednesday (5). It also highlighted that ethnic minorities "face greater barriers" in protecting themselves from the coronavirus. The report -- titled 'Over Exposed and…
By Nadeem Badshah FEWER British Asian teenagers are going to university, with opposition MPs and business leaders warning that students are being put off by rising debt levels. The tradition in many Asian families of children getting a degree appears to be changing, with new government figures showing that 73…
By Dinesh Bhugra Professor Emeritus Mental Health & Cultural Diversity King’s College, London ANOTHER day and another enquiry has been ordered to look at why there are disparities between black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) individuals and the majority white population. Yet another commission on race and ethnic disparities…
By Barnie Choudhury SENIOR Asian and black leaders have condemned a Conservative MP for his “despicable racist views”, accusing him of “dividing communities” after he blamed the rise in Covid-19 infections on “Asians and immigrants”. Craig Whittaker, the MP for Calder Valley told LBC last Friday (31), “What I…
Campaigners in the UK on Tuesday (4) sought to clarify confusion arising out of recent reports of Mahatma Gandhi being featured on a future commemorative coin being mistakenly associated with a separate drive for ethnic minority representation on British legal tender. The UK's Treasury department confirmed that the commemorative coin…
LEICESTER MP Claudia Webbe has appealed people to reject the divide and rule tactics and called for unity. She added that the diversity in the UK is its strength. “We must oppose all attempts to divide our communities, which have been under significant strain and have made many sacrifices during…
A TORY MP has come under fire for blaming black, Asian, minority ethnic communities for a surge in coronavirus cases. Craig Whittaker, MP for Calder Valley, recently told LBC radio that "sections of our community" were "just not taking the pandemic seriously". Asked if he was referring to the Muslim…
UK chancellor Rishi Sunak on Sunday (2) backed a campaign for influential ethnic minority figures to be featured on a set of UK coins to celebrate Britain’s diversity. Mahatma Gandhi is in the running as an influential Commonwealth figure, as the UK’s Royal Mint considers the plans as part of…
TOP British law firm Allen & Overy (A&O) has set an annual target of having 35 per cent ethnic minority trainees, including 10 per cent black candidates. The international legal practice said on Wednesday (29) it was also aiming 15 per partners (currently 9 per cent) and 25 per cent lawyers (22…
By Nadeem Badshah AN URGENT investigation is needed on why ethnic minority entrepreneurs often struggle to secure financial support to grow their firm, according to business leaders and experts. They have expressed disappointment at the findings of a report which found that some BAME business owners are disproportionately unable to…
THE NHS has appointed Marie Gabriel CBE to chair the Race and Health Observatory (RHO) which will look into the specific health challenges facing people from black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) backgrounds in England. NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens announced her appointment on Tuesday (28). Besides, NHS has appointed…
By Barnie Choudhury LEICESTER’S mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, has accused the government of playing politics with lives and livelihoods by locking down his city based on ‘inconsistent and sketchy data’. Eastern Eye can reveal that the mayor has sent two letters to ministers asking for permission to spend £13 million…
ASIAN people have been issued fixed-penalty notices (FPN) ‘disproportionately’ during lockdown in England and Wales, a police report has revealed. According to analysis, English and Welsh police forces issued 17,039 fines during the two months analysed – a rate of only three per 10,000 people. However, rates were highest for…
THE link between the coronavirus pandemic and ethnicity will be investigated in six new multi-million pound research projects, it was announced on Wednesday (29). Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the projects will seek to explain and mitigate the disproportionate death…
UK chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering a proposal for influential ethnic minority figures to be featured on a set of UK coins to celebrate Britain’s diversity. According to The Sunday Telegraph, plans have been submitted to the Royal Mint to work out some proposals as the…
BBC Radio &Music has announced £12 million funding over the next three years to include more diverse stories, voices and experiences on air. It has also set a clear goal to be the best organisation in the audio sector to work with and for, with an inclusive culture, diverse teams…
By Seema Malhotra Labour MP for Feltham and Heston, and shadow employment minister SMALL businesses are the backbone of our economy. They have been hit hard by the lockdown and the slow steps back to trading. SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] account for three-fifths of the employment and around half…
By Barnie Choudhury THE government’s newly appointed race commission has been widely criticised by Asian and black leaders, who said that it lacks credibility and consists of a “rigged panel whose minds are already made up”. Some senior Tory parliamentarians accused Number 10 of setting up the latest review to…
by BARNIE CHOUDHURY HE REMAINS the only south Asian civil servant to have reached the top tier of the government in the UK. Sir Suma Chakrabarti left the government in 2012 as permanent secretary of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The only other post more senior is the head of…
A study of 400 hospital patients in the UK has revealed that air pollution, overcrowded and poor-standard homes are linked to severe impact of Covid-19 on people from minority ethnic groups. People from areas of environmental and housing deprivation were twice as likely to arrive at hospital with more severe…
ENTREPRENEUR Jason Wouhra OBE has been appointed to the governing body of Aston University by the council in June 2020. He is the owner of East End Foods’ wholesale division. He joined the family firm of East End Foods after completing his law degree in 1998. He was director and…
A group of Indian-origin doctors has warned that inherent racial bias in medical research and practice could be exacerbating the disproportionately severe impact of COVID-19 among ethnic minorities in the UK and globally, as they call for a wider study into lifestyle-related risks among them. While metabolic syndrome (MetS) that…
THE British Association for Physicians of Indian Origin has backed the judicial review proceedings launched by a doctor-couple against health authorities for “risky” guidance on personal protection equipment during the initial stages of the pandemic. Reports on Friday (17) highlighted that the junior doctors, Meenal Viz and Nishant Joshi, named…
By Amit Roy THE Cass Business School in London has made a serious error of judgement in agreeing to change its name, just as Oriel College, Oxford, has in giving in to the anti-racist lobby and announcing the statue of its imperialist benefactor, Cecil Rhodes, will be removed. The dilemma…
By Barry Gardiner Labour MP for Brent North “LUNCH at the Wig and Pen Club?” That was my reward for helping a barrister friend out on a tricky maritime case in the 1990s. But nothing educated me about the old boy network of the legal profession quite so much as…
By Barnie Choudhury A CHARITY which deals with honour killings in south Asian communities has warned that more women will die unless the authorities become proactive in noticing the signs of domestic abuse. The warning from Middlesbrough-based Halo Project comes after a ‘domestic homicide review’ of the murder of pharmacist…
By Barnie Choudhury They administer justice and safeguard the law, and yet they are the powerless victims of racism. South Asian judges have this week blown the whistle on “a culture of racism, fear and bullying” in the British judiciary. After a six-week investigation, Eastern Eye can exclusively reveal a…
THE LABOUR PARTY has accused the government of announcing “review after review” but doing “precious little with recommendations” as it called for clarity on Boris Johnson’s new racial inequality commission. In mid-June, following massive anti-racism protests, the prime minister had announced “a new cross-government commission to look at what is going on…
DOMESTIC HOMICIDE victim Jessica Patel’s family has urged people to "open their eyes, ask questions and never assume everything is okay" to root out the "act of evil" as an independent review called for measures to curb domestic abuse and honour-based violence. The Domestic Homicide Review, which primarily focused on…
ANTI-RACISM activists in Birmingham have urged the West Midlands Police to name its officer who was sacked for making "racist and inappropriate comments" about some of his colleagues. An independent misconduct panel had given the officer "a final written warning" in September last year, but the force legally challenged the…
LABOUR leader Keir Starmer has said that the Covid-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as it has picked away at inequalities which were already there. He opined that the coming economic challenge will be 'profound', and warned of unemployment on a scale that…
BRITAIN's police watchdog has announced a review into whether the forces discriminate against ethnic minorities. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said on Friday (10) that the probe, to begin in the coming months, will initially look into the use of stop and search powers and the use of…
By Prof Kiran Patel and Prof Kamlesh Khunti COVID-19 has affected us all. Early data in the pandemic gave rise to concern that there was a disproportionate impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) patients and NHS staff. This resulted in many theories about why the inequality in risk…
By Mark Lyonette Chief Executive National Pharmacy Association (NPA) ONE of the striking features of coronavirus is the disproportionate impact it has had on black and minority ethnic groups. Many pharmacies in the UK are owned and operated by British Asians, and an estimated 43 per cent of pharmacy staff…
FORMER Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James says lockdown has given him plenty of time to indulge in his passion for art and also plot a move into management. The 49-year-old, capped 53 times, cut his managerial teeth with Kerala Blasters in south India, but now believes it is time…
FORMER England soccer international Eniola Aluko has called for an increase in Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) racial diversity at the top level of UK Sport to 30 per cent. The lack of ethnic minority representation in national sports governing bodies has come to light through the Black Lives Matter movement…
By Barnie Choudhury SOUTH ASIAN children who have been sexually abused are being let down by police not being thorough in their investigation and having a “poor” grasp of the trauma that victims experience, campaigners said. Eastern Eye can also reveal that a women’s group has this week launched a…
The lack of Black players in county cricket is "clearly not good enough" according to former England captain Michael Atherton. A study carried out by Leeds Beckett University this year found that there were only nine Black players competing in county cricket last season, down from 33 in 1995. "When…
A funding of £140,000 was distributed among 25 organisations as part of the first round of the BAME Community Investment Scheme which encourages organ donation among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The scheme, led by NHS Blood and Transplant, with support from the National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA), addresses…
By Dr Roshan Doug I have been a history enthusiast since my primary school days. In the 1960s I was part of the second generation of immigrants acquiring and adapting features of a foreign culture and its language. Integration was everything. Although as pupils from the New Commonwealth we didn’t…
By Nadeem Badshah THE NHS marks its 72nd birthday on Sunday (5), a welcome celebration after the most challenging year it has endured in its history due to the coronavirus crisis. For the estimated 118,000 doctors, nurses and staff from south Asia working on the frontline in the battle…
DR SAMARA AFZAL is a GP at the Limes Medical Centre in Stourbridge and the Urgent Care Centre at Russell’s Hall Hospital. She works in an inner-city surgery with a lot of deprived patients, many among them are south Asians. She became a GP three years ago after training in…
Dr Anton Sebastianpillai, Kingston Hospital Dr Anton Sebastianpillai was a “hugely respected” NHS geriatrician and author in his 70s, who died on April 4 at Kingston Hospital, where he served as a consultant. President of the British Geriatrics Society, Professor Tash Masud, said Sebastianpillai’s death was “heartbreaking”, adding that he…
By Barnie Choudhury GETTING the trust and confidence of south Asians are vital to winning the battle against diseases which are more widespread in their communities. That is the warning from Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the chair of the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association. Speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye, Nagpaul…
By Matt Hancock The Secretary Of State For Health And Social Care. ONE of the most heartening aspects of the past few months has been the widespread appreciation that we have seen for our incredible carers in the streets, balconies and doorsteps all across the UK. We have another opportunity…
By Barnie Choudhury THE data is there. The recommendations are there. What is lacking is the government’s political will to end racism once and for all in the UK. That is the damning accusation of black and Asian leaders from the world of politics and anti-racism activism. In an exclusive…
by LAUREN CODLING AN NHS doctor has praised the health service for giving him a “sense of belonging”, as the beloved institution marks its 72nd birthday on Sunday (5). Dr Mohan Bhat is the associate medical director and consultant old age psychiatrist for the Older Adults Mental Health Team &…
Actor Sandra Oh has said the UK is "behind" in terms of diversity on film and TV sets. The Canadian-American actor, who stars in the hit BBC series Killing Eve, explained how sometimes she is the only Asian person on a set when shooting in the country. "The UK, I'm…
A 2011 VIDEO featuring Munira Mirza has resurfaced under the spotlight as she is seen arguing against banning hate speech, and asking a black youth how using the “N-word” was different from calling someone “fat”. The head of Number 10’s policy unit – who’s been asked to set up UK’s…
PREGNANT women from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds should be given additional support as they face a “heightened risk” due to Covid-19, the NHS England has said. Recent research from Oxford University showed that 55 per cent of the pregnant women admitted to hospitals due to Covid-19 were…
COUNCILLOR Mohammed Javed has taken over as the mayor of Stockton, becoming the first black, Asian and ethnic minority (BAME) man in borough to hold the ceremonial post. Reports noted that Javed -- who had become Stockton's first Asian councillor in 2007 -- was also the first Asian mayor in…
Local charity, the Asian Resource of Centre Croydon (ARCC) has published a report, in partnership with Big Local Broad Green (BLBG), highlighting the impact of Covid-19 on the local community and reveals how issues of marginalisation were exacerbated during the Covid-19 lockdown. The 50-page report said that how befriending calls…
By Nadeem Badshah BUSINESS leaders have welcomed new figures showing that British Indians are outperforming other minority groups to land top jobs, but have warned more work is needed on equality. Eleven per cent of professionals of Indian heritage were in “manager, director and senior official” roles, the joint highest…
By Amit Roy TWO senior journalists, Shekhar Bhatia and Vivek Chaudhary, have done a signal service in writing an open letter to the Society of Editors to make the case for greater diversity in Britain’s newsrooms, saying it’s “time for change”. It is a persuasive letter written by Shekhar and…
By Barnie Choudhury ASIAN law enforcers and parliamentarians have warned that Britain will lose yet another generation to structural racism and inequality if the government does not “get a grip”’ and carry out some of the hundreds of recommendations from previous race inquiries. They have told Eastern Eye that…
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY professionals from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are less likely to be in top positions than their white peers – “despite being better qualified”, a new study has found. Research by the charity British Computer Society found that only 9 per cent of BAME IT specialists were…
By Seema Malhotra Labour MP for Feltham and Heston Shadow minister for work and pensions and employment AS WE emerge from lockdown into a new “normal”, a clear plan for tackling unemployment has to be on the government’s agenda, based on a proper needs assessment of different groups. The first…
By Tan Dhesi Labour MP for Slough Shadow minister for railways THE nation needs a full, independent public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis, which has taken the lives of so many people, including three of my own close family members. We need to scrutinise ministers’ decisions…
by LAUREN CODLING CREATIVE people from BAME communities have urged the UK entertainment industry to do more to tackle racism and the lack of diversity and representation in TV and film in an open letter published last Sunday (21). Signed by a number of prominent filmmakers, producers and writers, the…
CHILDREN from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds suffer face a higher risk of mental health issues due to the pandemic than their white counterparts, new research reveals. Experts observed that the higher risk of BAME people dying due to Covid-19, and the pandemic's impact on schools were key factors…
THE British government said on Monday (22) it was determined to "right the wrongs" of its treatment of Britons of Caribbean origin who were detained or deported as illegal immigrants. Home Secretary Priti Patel and Bishop Derek Webley, a senior church leader, will chair a cross-government working group to address…
Steve McQueen, director of 12 Years A Slave, has called out "blatant racism" in the British film and television industry. In an op-ed for The Observer newspaper, the Oscar-winning filmmaker said it is “shameful” that the producers in the UK are still not bringing together a diverse workforce. “I’m fed…
A newly set up 'BAME TV Task Force' has sent out a hard-hitting letter on “cultural problems within the UK television industry” to the government and the country’s top broadcasters. “For many years we have stayed silent, due to fear of being blacklisted. But in the current climate we feel…
LABOUR MP Dawn Butler has called on the government to make a concerted effort to “dismantle structural and systemic racism” in society, as she referred to Eastern Eye’s exclusive investigation this week on a lack of BAME leaders in the NHS. During a Backbench Business Debate on Thursday (18), Butler referred…
Well Pharmacy has joined forces with senior academic and pharmacist Professor Mahendra Patel to assess risks to its black Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) staff. The pharmacy chain also aims to explore how community pharmacy can improve healthcare services for the disadvantaged groups through the initiative. The company said it…
By Nadeem Badshah AN INCREASING number of Asians are suffering financial and mental abuse during lockdown and need additional support, campaigners have said. Charities have seen a rise in people seeking help for different forms of domestic violence since the UK went into lockdown in March, as victims have found…
By Lord Meghnad Desai DURING the Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstrations around the world after the death in the US of George Floyd, a lot of rage was expressed against racism and injustice to black people. Many monuments and statues were defaced and damaged, among them the statue of Mahatma…
TWO prominent British firms have expressed regret over their founders' roles in 18th and 19th century slave trade, and pledged financial support to charities and organisations promoting opportunities for black and ethnic minority groups. Popular pub chain and brewer Greene King and Llyod's of London insurance market announced on Wednesday…
by LAUREN CODLING CAMPAIGNERS have called for more diversity within leaderships roles in the UK as prime minister Boris Johnson announced a new commission to look into racial inequalities this week. The announcement comes as anti-racist protests continue across the country, triggered by the death of a black man, George…
By Barnie Choudhury ASIAN and black people are dying needlessly and disproportionately because they are not being represented in senior ranks of the NHS, doctors, parliamentarians, and health bosses have told Eastern Eye. The paper can also reveal that a further 17 BAME doctors have died in the past 10…
CONSERVATIVE leaders have slammed critics of No.10 adviser Munira Mirza’s involvement in the new racial equalities commission announced by Boris Johnson. Following the recent anti-racism protests in the UK, the prime minister had said he was setting up a commission to study "all aspects of inequality — in employment, in…
By Sarwar Alam Vikram Solanki’s appointment as Surrey’s head coach will help open the door for the next generation British Asian coaches, according to the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC). Solanki, 44, became the first British Asian head coach of a county cricket team after he was chosen to take…
THE new president of the Confederation of British Industry has said he will “aim to get better BAME representation in boardrooms across the country”. British Indian entrepreneur and peer Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE was elected as the first non-white president of the CBI with an “overwhelming majority” on Tuesday (16).…
PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND has outlined a seven-point plan for ensuring better coronavirus protection to black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. The set of recommendations were compiled as part of a review published on June 2 that said BAME people up to 50 per cent more likely to die due…
RACIAL discrimination is a major cause of high Covid-19 death rates among black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in the UK, an official inquiry has found. The revelation came as the media accessed a section of the Public Health England‘s recent review that had been withheld, allegedly due to concerns…
THE British Medical Association has urged the government to explain on why it did not publish "the full report" on the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. On Thursday (11), a British-Indian academic, who had peer-reviewed a recent Public Health England inquiry paper on tackling…
By Nadeem Badshah BANGLADESHI business leaders have expressed fears over the relaxing of lockdown measures and restaurants reopening in July after it emerged they are twice as likely to die from coronavirus than white Britons. They are also worried at the absence of any recommendations or conclusions to protect people…
By Barnie Choudhury QUESTIONS are being asked about whether a minister misled parliament during a debate on Public Health England’s (PHE) review into the disproportionately high number of Asian and black people who died from Covid-19, Eastern Eye has learnt. It follows last Thursday’s (4) urgent question to the equalities…
By Sunder Katwala Director British Future thinktank BLACK lives matter. That has been the central theme of protests in America and Britain against racial inequality. The British demonstrations showed solidarity with those protesting the shocking killing of George Floyd in America, yet their main message was to highlight how much…
THE coronavirus crisis is exposing Britain's existing inequalities -- between low and high earners, young and old workers and for ethnic minorities -- which could be aggravated without reforms, a leading think tank said on Thursday (11). People on low wages are most at risk of losing income and their…
A husband-wife doctor couple have launched judicial review proceedings against the UK government over what they say is a refusal to address safety issues around personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Dr Nishant Joshi and his pregnant wife, Dr Meenal Viz, had initiated…
Produced in association with UK Government HEADTEACHER REVEALS ‘BUBBLE’ SYSTEM AND REVAMPED CLASSROOMS TO MINIMISE INFECTION RISK SCHOOLS in England reopened on June 1 for the first time since they were shut 10 weeks ago because of the coronavirus pandemic, with many students walking into classrooms that looked different before…
By Barnie Choudhury SIXTEEN of the 17 doctors who died during the time it took Public Health England to carry out its review into the disproportionate number of Asian and black people dying from coronavirus were BAME, Eastern Eye has learnt. The British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, also…
by LAUREN CODLING PRIME minister Boris Johnson told his ministers on Tuesday (9) that there was more to be done to eradicate prejudice and create opportunity in Britain, but society was much less racist than it was before, his spokesman said. Johnson’s comments came as further protests were held in…
NEIL BASU has said this is “a time to stand up to racists, to inequality and injustice” in a “personal message” to his policing colleagues in the UK. “The death of George Floyd horrified us all, and rightly so,” said the assistant commissioner of the Met Police. “All the good…
by LAUREN CODLING A BRITISH-ASIAN man recovering from Covid-19 has said he has been “given a second chance in life”, after spending more than 20 days in an induced coma. Sohail Anjum, 47, was diagnosed with coronavirus in March. He was later told he only had a 50 per cent…
BORIS JOHNSON has said BAME groups "paid a disproportionate price" during the pandemic as he acknowledged that the raging emotions triggered by the death of George Floyd in the US could not be ignored. The custodial killing of the unarmed African American sparked demonstrations around the world over police brutality.…
PEOPLE from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds in Britain have been hit harder by job losses during the coronavirus crisis than the population as a whole, researchers have found. The share of BAME people in employment fell to 67.4 per cent in April from 72.0 per cent in February, researchers from…
NHS CONSULTANT SOUGHT SOLACE IN SPIRITUALITY AS HE BATTLED LIFE-THREATENING VIRUS by S NEERAJ KRISHNA DR NEERAJ PATIL has had his hands full since recovering from Covid-19 in April. He was back at the frontline as an A&E consultant with Causeway Hospital in Northern Ireland as soon as he completed…
THE Equality and Human Rights Commission has initiated an inquiry into the UK’s “long-standing, entrenched racial inequalities” that have been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The watchdog said it would conduct a thorough study and propose urgent measures to tackle race inequalities. The EHRC’s chairman, David Isaac, said the current…
By Nadeem Badshah COMMUNITY leaders have welcomed the change in the law on organ donation, but cautioned against people “scaremongering” over the issue. All adults in England will now be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die, unless they have registered a decision to “opt…
By Barnie Choudhury IF CORONAVIRUS has shown us one thing, it is that Asian and black people are dying disproportionately from the disease. This pandemic neither knows nor cares for race, social class or gender. It destroys lives, wreaking physical and emotional havoc in its wake. This week, Ankur Khajuria,…
By Amit Roy THE Singh Twins, Amrit and Rabindra Kaur, have referenced an Eastern Eye exclusive, in their new artwork, NHS V Covid-19-19: Fighting on Two Fronts. The newspaper’s report from May 8, by executive editor Shailesh Solanki, based on an interview with health secretary Matt Hancock, was headlined, “We…
SCOTLAND YARD has revealed that a disproportionately high number of people from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds were being fined or arrested for lockdown breaches, prompting allegations of racial bias. Data released on Wednesday (3) showed that the Metropolitan Police said it had issued 973 fines, or fixed penalty…
by LAUREN CODLING A LEADING equalities campaigner has said that the coronavirus crisis is an opportunity to “build an environment of equality of opportunity and justice for everyone”. Lord Simon Woolley, founder of Operation Black Vote (OBV), made the comments on the eve of the publication of the Public Health…
By Barnie Choudhury PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (PHE) did not speak formally to key experts and organisations for its review into why a disproportionate number of Asian and black people are dying from Covid-19, reliable sources have told Eastern Eye. On Tuesday (2), PHE published findings of its review into the…
THE much-awaited Public Health England review on disparities in the impact of the pandemic has confirmed that the risk of dying due to Covid-19 is higher people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups than in white ethnic groups. “Death rates from Covid-19 were highest among people of Black…
A virtual round table by All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for BAME Business Owners about their response to the Covid-19 pandemic will be held on June 8 from 2-4 pm BST. The event will be held in collaboration with the Federation of Small Business, the Confederation of British Industry, British and…
THE Labour Party has alleged that the “unequal suffering” in society was “not being taken seriously” by the government, as it delayed publishing the Public Health England review into the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities. Reports suggested that the PHE review was being delayed because of “concerns around…
By Harris Bokhari [caption id="attachment_91900" align="alignleft" width="300"] Harris Bokhari (Photo credit: Alastair Fyfe)[/caption] The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed some of the pressing racial inequalities in our society. BAME individuals have been over-represented; in Covid-19 related deaths; working in professions which put them at greater risk of contracting the virus; and…
THE Met Police has been accused of racial profiling as public outrage grew over a video that showed a policewoman handcuffing a black off-duty ambulance in Lewisham. The now viral video, which was recorded on May 21, showed the officer questioning and detaining the man even as he agreed to…
THE Natural History Museum has appointed the first Muslim to its board of trustees, it was announced this week. Harris Bokhari OBE is the first British-born Muslim trustee of a major British museum. Bokhari, who is also a board member of the Princes’ Trust Mosaic Initiative and founder of the…
By Amit Roy THE proportion of patients with diabetes who have died from Covid-19 has gone up from 26 per cent to 32 per cent, according to the latest research from NHS England. New figures show that 7,466 coronavirus patients who have died in hospitals in England had type 2…
Professor Kiran CR Patel Chief medical officer and Cardiologist, University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire EMERGING evidence from the NHS in the UK and from the US suggest a disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on patients and staff from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. A recent study from King’s…
By Sailesh Mehta Barrister specialising in human rights and regulatory law CORONAVIRUS has already claimed more than 36,000 lives in the UK alone and the global death toll will be half a million or more. A disproportionate number of black and Asian people have died in the UK. The US…
A group of social campaigners, academics and religious leaders have urged the government to formulate a “Race Equality Strategy” in the light of the disproportionate impact of coronavirus on BAME communities. Studies have been indicating that Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people are more vulnerable to Covid-19 complications, and…
By Barnie Choudhury and Rithika Siddhartha DOCTORS’ leaders have urged NHS managers to carry out “proper risk assessments” for frontline black, Asian and ethnic minority staff who are treating Covid-19 patients. Their recommendation comes as new analysis by the Guardian newspaper on Monday (25) showed that among healthcare workers who…
by LAUREN CODLING A LABOUR MP has urged the government to consider inclusive messaging for disabled people during the coronavirus pandemic, calling ministers’ current response “poor”. Marsha de Cordova, the shadow secretary for equalities and women, has spoken of the difficulties that disabled groups may face during the crisis and…
By Zeenath Uddin Head of quality and safety Royal College of Midwives THERE is barely a corner of the world that hasn’t been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. We will know friends or family, both here and overseas, who have had the disease. Most will have experienced it only mildly…
By Amit Roy A LEADING diabetes doctor has advised British Asians on how they can reduce their risks from Covid-19 by taking up NHS programmes aimed at dealing with the disease. The comments from Prof Partha Kar, national speciality adviser for diabetes for NHS England, follow the publication last week…
By Barnie Choudhury and Shailesh Solanki ASIAN and black health workers are being put in harm’s way during the coronavirus pandemic because of “structural racism”, one of the country’s leading equalities campaigners has claimed. Trevor Phillips, former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), said some workers were…
A NEW LAW under which all adults in England will now be deemed as potential organ donors after they die -- unless they record a decision not to donate, or are in one of the excluded categories -- has come into force on Wednesday (20). Under the Organ Donation (Deemed…
by LAUREN CODLING THE majority of pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus are from a black, Asian and ethnic minority background, a new study has shown. According to the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS), 55 per cent of pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus over March and April…
OVER three-quarters of black, Asian and minority ethnic doctors remain concerned about getting infected with coronavirus at work, a new survey has found. According to the study by Royal College of Physicians (RCP), at least 48 per cent of all doctors it surveyed were either “concerned or very concerned” about…
by LAUREN CODLING AN NHS leader has urged the public to seek medical attention if they need it, as experts warn delays in getting treatment due to Covid-19 could lead to a long-term risk to people’s health. Dr Nikita Kanani is one of several medical professionals who are backing the…
By Jas Singh Khatkar – The Sikh Network Life as we know it has been completely turned upside down. In the UK, we have seen the largest Covid-19 death rate across Europe and currently second globally behind the USA. This is very concerning given we are a leading G7 nation…
BLACK and minority ethnic women make up more than half of pregnant Covid-19 patients in hospitals, an Oxford University study has found. Experts have reportedly issued new guidance to midwives to “remain on high alert and lower the threshold for diagnosis by medical professionals”. About 55 per cent pregnant patients…
NAGA MUNCHETTY has opened up on some of the major equality issues she has faced in her life – from being called a “P***” as a child to her “absolutely furious” reaction to a racist tweet from Donald Trump. The popular TV host also confirmed that “all four main presenters…
By Shailesh Solanki THE disproportionate number of people from Asian and black communities who have died from coronavirus is a “tragic episode of systemic failure”, a senior NHS leader has said. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Lord Victor Adebowale claimed racism “clearly played a role” in the rising…
A BRITISH INDIAN doctor, whose "heart was with the NHS", has died in the north-east of England after a long battle with the deadly coronavirus. Dr Poornima Nair, 55, who worked at the Station View Medical Centre in Bishop Auckland in County Durham of England, had been admitted at the…
