• Thursday, March 28, 2024

Results for "ethnic minority"

Prof Malik becomes first Asian female High Sheriff of West…

ADEEBA MALIK has been appointed as the first Asian female High Sheriff for West Yorkshire, according to a statement released on Tuesday (26). She took oath at Leeds High Court on Monday (25) in a formal ceremony presided by High Court Judge Sir Nicholas Hilliard, the statement added. Professor Malik’s…

Starmer not easily accessible, says adviser on race Baroness Lawrence

While opinion polls may favour the Labour Party and its leader Kier Starmer, there is disquiet among some party members over his functioning. The latest to do so is Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, who advices Starmer on race relations, The Times reports. At a recent private meeting of Labour’s ethnic…

No progress in ending racism, says Keith Vaz

ONE of Britain’s first ethnic minority members of parliament has told Eastern Eye of his regret at not being able to “move the dial forward” in the fight against racism, while urging the current generation to do more. Keith Vaz was the first Asian MP for nearly sixty years when…

Geeta Pendse: ‘Words can prompt new ways of thinking’

THE TV presenter and journalist, Geeta Pendse, chaired the opening sessions of the London Book Fair (LBF) which analysed the issue of diversity in the publishing world. The LBF – held over three days last week at Kensington Olympia – also looked at what might constitute enjoyable literature for ethnic…

Sharp fall in women and minority recruits to London Fire…

THERE was a sharp drop in the recruitment of women and ethnic minorities by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) last year, new data released on Thursday (14) revealed, despite calls for greater diversity within the service. In 2023, just 11 per cent of new recruits were female and only 13…

Number of ethnic minority CEOs has increased since 2022: Parker…

ETHNIC minorities continue to face barriers in the workplace, although a review has found an increase in representation in boardrooms, a leading diversity and inclusion expert has said. The Parker Review found that there are 12 ethnic minority CEOs in the FTSE 100, up from seven in 2022. Additionally, there…

Shailesh Vara MP meets Indian student leaders

TORY MP Shailesh Vara has addressed the Indian National Students’ Association's (INSA) student leadership summit held at the House of Commons this week. The event held on Monday (11) was a forum for student leaders, student union representatives and guests to discuss and shape a positive future for Indian students…

GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards 2024: ‘This evening recognises ethnic…

LEADING public and private sector organisations need to do more attract ethnic minorities to their boardrooms, Kalpesh Solanki, managing director at Asian Media Group (AMG), told attendees at the GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards. In December 2023, only 44 per cent of the UK’s top 50 largest private companies had…

MI6 plans to recruit more black and Asian people, says…

A BRITISH Indian spy working with the UK's foreign intelligence service said the agency wants to recruit more people from black and Asian backgrounds. In a rare interview to BBC Radio 1Xtra, the MI6 director of global intelligence, identified only as Jay, said the service sought individuals with the right…

Tony Jayawardena who plays Churchill hails inclusion progress in theatre

PLAYING Winston Churchill in a play at the National Theatre is another step towards inclusivity in the arts, actor Tony Jayawardena told Eastern Eye. The 45-year-old will be seen playing the iconic former British prime minister in the play, Nye, which is based on the life of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan…

Car insurance costs more for drivers in ethnically diverse areas:…

QUOTES for car insurance were found to be higher in areas in England with large ethnic minority populations, according to an investigation by the BBC. The details of drivers were used to get thousands of quotes in different locations. However, when the driver’s address corresponded with an address with a…

Services working on “culturally competent” strategies to support Asians struggling…

RESEARCHERS have called for more equitable access to drug treatment and support for people in minority ethnic groups after a study found they faced barriers such as stigma and lack of culturally competent services or ones they have no faith in them. Funded by the Department of Health and Social…

Ethnic minority areas in England face poor GP access: report

ACCESS to GPs in England is worse in areas where more ethnic minorities live, according to a recent analysis by The Guardian. The highest proportion of ethnic minority neighbourhoods have significantly fewer GPs per 100,000 patients compared to areas with a predominantly white British population, the report said. Experts attribute…

Shreela Flather best known for Memorial Gates

LADY SHREELA FLATHER, who has died, aged 89, came into her own when she entered the House of Lords in 1990, the first ethnic minority woman to be given a peerage. Her passing last week was announced by the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, who said: “My Lords, I…

British Indian academic awarded £450,000 in discrimination claim against university

A university has been ordered to compensate a British Asian academic with a minimum of £450,000 in damages following her victory in a racial discrimination lawsuit at a tribunal. Portsmouth University was found to have been influenced by 'pernicious and destructive' unconscious bias when it failed to reappoint Dr Kajal…

Wildlife charities allege racism in British countryside

BRITISH wildlife charities are ringing alarm bells by describing the countryside as a "racist, colonial" domain where non-white people often feel marginalised, media reports said. Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition comprising 80 organisations including the WWF, the RSPCA, and National Trust, presented their findings to MPs as part of…

Comment: Shreela Flather broke one glass ceiling after another throughout…

I was introduced to Baroness Flather exactly 30 years ago, soon after my wife Heather and I were married. At our wedding, Julie Barnes, the wife of one of my best friends from boarding school, who was a senior journalist working at the Maidenhead Advisor, said I must meet her…

Football clubs fall short of diversity code target

ENGLISH football clubs have been shown a yellow card by campaigners over a lack of progress after failing to meet their hiring targets for south Asian coaches. Recent data from the Football Association (FA) showed the 53 clubs signed up to the Football Leadership Diversity Code (FLDC) collectively failed to…

Black cops’ group urges ethnic minorities to boycott joining Met

The National Black Police Association (NBPA) has taken a historic stance by urging ethnic minority communities to boycott joining the Metropolitan Police (Met). This action comes in response to what they describe as discriminatory and unfair treatment towards Charles Ehikioya, the current chair of the Met Black Police Association (Met…

King Charles’ charity patronage ‘shows commitment to south Asia’

KING CHARLES’S cancer diagnosis has shocked the whole country, but will be felt especially keenly by the British Asian community, for whom he has cared as long as anyone can remember. He said as much when his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, attended the Hinduja Diwali party in October 2022…

Two killed in Bangladesh as fighting rages on Myanmar border:…

At least two people were killed in Bangladesh Monday after mortar shells fired from Myanmar during clashes there landed across the border, as terrified residents reported heavy fighting and medics treated several with gunshot wounds. Parts of Myanmar near the 270-kilometre (167-mile) border with Bangladesh have seen frequent clashes since…

Labour proposes equal pay rights for BAME workers

Under a proposed race equality act, the Labour Party aims to broaden the scope of existing equal pay rights, currently afforded to women, for the first time, to include BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) workers, alongside individuals with disabilities, an exclusive report by The Guardian said. This initiative aims…

Sunak reveals he ‘experienced racism as a kid’

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has shared insights into the challenges of growing up facing racism and the efforts his family made to ensure he assimilated into British society, including enrolling him in additional drama classes to eliminate any accent, The Guardian reported. "You are conscious of being different," Sunak told…

Labour launches new initiatives to win back British Indian voters

Amidst concerns of dwindling support from the UK's largest ethnic minority, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is implementing new strategies to reengage with British Indians. Recent initiatives include recruiting two community outreach volunteers, revitalising the Labour Friends of India group, and arranging a visit to India for senior shadow ministers David…

Iran minister in Pakistan amid tensions over air strikes

Iran's foreign minister visited Pakistan on Monday (29) for discussions, aiming to mitigate tensions following deadly cross-border air strikes that had put a strain on diplomatic relations between the two countries. Pakistan's foreign ministry shared pictures and video of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arriving in Islamabad late Sunday, saying he would hold…

Higher non-Covid deaths found in diabetics, women: Study

New research published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal has revealed an increase in non-Covid-related deaths among individuals with diabetes, attributed to disruptions caused by the pandemic. The global review of studies comparing pre-pandemic and during-pandemic data found that the complication of sight loss in people with diabetes also…

NHS observatory launches new initiative to address disparities

THE NHS Race and Health Observatory on Wednesday (24) launched a learning and action network designed to address stark disparities in maternal, perinatal and neonatal health outcomes for women from black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds. Data shows alarmingly higher rates of maternal and baby deaths amongst black and Asian…

Biden, Harris advocate for abortion rights in fight against Trump

US president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris are set to intensify their advocacy for abortion rights, this week highlighting what the Democrats consider to be a major political vulnerability for Donald Trump in the upcoming November election. Harris is being promoted by the Biden campaign as the face…

‘Hidden’ south Asian poverty overlooked, study finds

URGENT action is needed to help the large number of south Asian households living in hidden poverty, anti-poverty campaigners have urged. New research reveals that ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by severe hardship in areas not accounted for in government measures targeting antideprivation funding. The study by Queen’s University in…

Veronica Mehta’s phoenix moment after intense cancer battle

AT THE end of the video for her new song, Gone, British Asian music pioneer Veronica Mehta transforms into a phoenix rising from the ashes – a symbol, she said, of her “second chance at life” after a gruelling battle with cancer. Mehta was riding high in her career after…

Engage with Asian voters, Conservative MPs told

BRITAIN is on course to elect its most diverse parliament ever following the general election later this year, a thinktank has said, while a leading Conservative parliamentarian has urged MPs to better engage with ethnic minority voters. Based on current candidate selections, a record number of ethnic minority MPs are…

Covid infection rates almost double among ethnic minorities in West…

PEOPLE from an ethnic minority background in Dudley, a market town in the West Midlands, were almost twice as likely to get Covid-19 during the pandemic according to a new report. The study, by the borough’s acting director of public health, also found living in deprived areas made residents more…

2024 election set to deliver UK’s ‘Most diverse parliament ever’

THE General Election is unlikely to be held until close to the end of this year, with the Prime Minister saying his ‘working assumption’ is the election in the second half of 2024. Despite Labour’s large poll lead, the results will depend on the campaigns to come. One thing we…

Next parliament ‘will be the most diverse ever’

The upcoming UK parliament is expected to mark a significant leap in diversity, with projections suggesting it to be the most diverse in history, British Future, a leading race, and diversity think tank forecast on Sunday (7). However, the chance to bridge the gap in ethnic minority and gender representation…

‘Ethnic minorities unfairly assigned to dance-off in ‘Strictly,’ says academic

Contestants on the popular BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing, who are most likely to be assigned to repeated dance-offs are racial minority celebrities paired with racial minority professional dancers and who achieved high scores from the judges, an academic has said. Professor Keon West from Goldsmiths, University of London, analysed…

Knighthood for Sajid Javid in New Year’s Honours List

Former chancellor and home secretary Sajid Javid described his knighthood as a “tremendous honour” after he was recognised for his achievements in the New Year’s Honours List announced last Friday (29). Javid, who represents Bromsgrove, served under three different prime ministers in six different Cabinet posts, including as culture secretary,…

British Asian man alleges racial bias by Liverpool FC

A British Asian man has taken legal action against Liverpool FC, accusing the club of racial discrimination in the handling of his job application, The Guardian reported. The lawsuit alleged that Liverpool rejected Asad Farooq's (25) application, favouring a less experienced candidate for the position. According to Farooq, he has…

‘More Asians seek IVF treatment among ethnic groups’

ASIANS represent a larger proportion of IVF patients in the UK at 15 per cent, the latest data from the fertility regulator has revealed. Black and Asian patients had lower birth rates from fertility treatment when compared to other ethnic groups, according to analysis from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology…

‘Healthy Goals’ initiative enhances lifestyles in Leicester’s South Asian communities

An educational physical activity initiative, Healthy Goals, designed to combat rising type 2 diabetes rates within the South Asian community, has demonstrated enduring positive effects on participants' health. Notably, 100% of those who participated adopted healthier dietary habits after completing the programme, reflecting significant lifestyle changes, a press release by…

Asian groups missing from labour market in UK

AROUND a third of individuals from Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities broadly have no one earning any income through work, the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed. Almost half of all women in both these ethnic groups are not economically active either – meaning they are…

Author Sheela Banerjee chronicles changing cultural identity in diverse Britain

IN HER book, What’s in a Name? Friendship, Identity and History in Modern Multicultural Britain, the author Sheela Banerjee deals with the question which confronts all British Asian parents. What should they call their newborn? Most want the name to reflect the child’s ethnic and cultural heritage, but at the…

Educated minorities ‘now more likely to vote Tory’

GRADUATE ethnic minority voters are more likely to vote for the Conservative party, a new survey has found. Lead researcher James Kanagasooriam, from FocalData, said the voting intentions of ethnic minority graduates is in contrast to their white counterparts. They are more left-leaning and more likely to vote Labour, although…

BAME transplant patients face dual inequity, say MPs

A report by MPs has concluded that NHS “inaction” over more than a decade is resulting in unnecessary deaths among black, Asian, and minority ethnic transplant patients. An inquiry into organ donation in the UK highlighted a “double whammy of inequity” faced by minority ethnic and mixed heritage individuals, The…

Hancock tells Covid inquiry earlier lockdown could have saved 30,000…

At the Covid inquiry, Matt Hancock asserted that tens of thousands of lives might have been spared had the UK implemented a lockdown three weeks earlier. He described Boris Johnson’s Downing Street operation as affected by a "culture of fear." Hancock detailed instances of his staff encountering mistreatment from Dominic…

Arthanayake raises concerns about lack of diversity in BBC leadership

BRITISH ASIAN BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake expressed concerns about the overwhelming lack of diversity in the network's newsroom, highlighting its impact on his mental health. Addressing a journalism diversity conference on Wednesday (29) at Media City in Salford, he expressed concern about the absence of Muslim employees in the "senior…

Capital comes together to raise awareness about changes to the…

The Greater London Authority (GLA) has launched a campaign to help all eligible Londoners access their right to vote, in collaboration with Shout Out UK, London borough electoral services and a coalition of civil society organisations South Asian faith leaders, public figures and community groups are supporting the campaign which…

Asos shifts bonus scheme focus from diversity targets to profits

ONLINE fashion retailer Asos has announced a change in the criteria for its annual executive bonus scheme, no longer requiring leaders to meet diversity targets to qualify for incentives, reported The Telegraph. The move is seen as a sign of shifting from the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) movement, which…

Hundreds of Rohingya refugees set sail from Bangladesh

AT LEAST two more boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees set sail from Bangladesh this week, refugees and a monitoring group said, the latest in a wave of migrations that has seen more than 1,000 asylum seekers arrive on Indonesian shores. Bangladesh is home to around one million Rohingya refugees,…

Aladdin and the winds of change in diversity

UP-AND-COMING actors Rishi Manuel and Zaynah Ahmed make their panto debut with Aladdin, a story they said holds a “special place” in the hearts of south Asian communities. In recent years, Disney has been on a mission to venture into new cultures with films such as Wish, Encanto, Raya and…

British Pakistani academic nominated for new High Sheriff role in…

A British Pakistani academic has been nominated as the new High Sheriff of West Yorkshire for 2024-25, a statement said on Thursday (16). Prof Adeeba Malik CBE DL was nominated on Monday (13) as part of the annual selection process overseen by the Lords of the Council in the King's…

EXCLUSIVE: ‘More Asians will die in future pandemics’

NOTHING has been done to protect south Asian and black medical staff or patients, despite their disproportionate number of deaths during Covid, doctors have told Eastern Eye. They have warned that if a pandemic were to happen tomorrow, more people of colour would die unnecessarily. Medical experts have previously told…

Nikhil Singh Rai: ‘In theatre, Asians are still so heavily…

PLAYING the lead character in Jack in the Beanstalk, actor Nikhil Singh Rai hopes he can “light a spark” in young south Asians to think about acting as a career path. The panto will be staged at the Stratford East Theatre, an area with a large ethnic minority population which…

NHS review finds accessing care tougher for BAME persons

In a landmark independent review of services provided by NHS Talking Therapies it has been identified that psychotherapy services must be better tailored to meet the specific needs of Black and minoritised ethnic groups. Over a decade of anonymised patient data has revealed historical disparities in access and outcomes for…

‘Women’s football needs to be proactive to ensure diversity’

A LEADING diversity adviser has warned that football risks losing a generation of ethnic minority female football players unless it shifts gears and becomes “proactive not reactive”. Earlier this month, Arsenal football club were criticised for a women’s team photo that had no ethnic minority player. The photo, posted on…

Pension size of ethnic minorities less than half of white…

ETHNIC minorities in the UK are significantly under-pensioned compared to white British people, according to new research. Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) found that at £52,333, the average minority ethnic person’s pension pot was less than half the size of the average white British person’s £114,941. Insufficient disposable income…

Arsenal seek more diversity after team photo backlash

ARSENAL football club’s have vowed to work to increase diversity at the club after receiving criticism for a women’s team photo that had no ethnic minority player. The photo, posted on Arsenal’s social media earlier this month, included 27 players and head coach Jonas Eidevall. “We acknowledge our current women’s…

Drop in number of minority directors in leading companies: Survey

THE number of ethnic minority and women members on the boards of top UK companies has seen a significant decline, according to a recent survey. Recruitment firm Spencer Stuart said its analysis showed there is a 44 per cent drop in minority ethnic non-executive directors in top firms this year.…

New multilingual resources aim to bridge menopause information gap for…

In an effort to bridge the information gap surrounding menopause experiences for ethnic minority women in the UK, Besins Healthcare has launched new multi-language resources, “Language of Menopause” aimed at fostering better conversations about menopause within diverse communities. Launched on World Menopause Day 2023, (18 October) these digital resources including…

Decline in boardroom diversity at leading companies: Survey

DIVERSITY in the boardrooms of the UK's largest listed companies witnessed a significant drop in the past year, a new survey has revealed. The decline occurred due to an increased focus on hiring experienced individuals during uncertain times, found out a survey by recruitment firm Spencer Stuart. Spencer Stuart's 2023…

UK finance professionals urged to sign diversity code

A GLOBAL body for financial sector qualifications set out on Wednesday (11) its first diversity, equity and inclusion code in Britain, just as regulators pile pressure on the industry to hire more women and ethnic minority staff. The US headquartered CFA Institute has already rolled out a version of the…

Ministers urged to clear path for SMEs’ financial growth

MINISTERS have been asked to remove barriers in the finance industry so that small and medium enterprises can access funds and grow to their full potential. In a submission to the Treasury Select Committee last month, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) made recommendations to support women and…

‘Trailblazer’ Humza Yousaf appears on Time front cover

SCOTLAND’S first minister Humza Yousaf has appeared on the front cover of Time magazine which described him as one of the 10 “trailblazers shaping the future”. The recognition came on the eve of his Scottish National Party’s bigger-than-expected defeat in a parliamentary seat on the outskirts of Glasgow. Yousaf, born…

Working from home ‘hampers diversity and inclusion efforts’

LAYOFFS, working from home and misguided tips on how to get ahead are hindering moves by financial firms on inclusion and diversity, British industry executives said last Wednesday (27). The Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England last week set out proposals for the mandatory reporting of data on…

Tories ‘need to widen appeal among all ethnic minorities’

A PROMINENT Conservative party commentator believes the Tories have become “complacent” in reaching out to ethnic minority politicians and voters. With Rishi Sunak as prime minister and ministers such as Suella Braverman, Kemi Badonech and James Cleverly, the Tory administration has one of the most diverse cabinets in history. However,…

‘Leaders must offer vision for diverse and confident society’

IS BRITAIN “a fantastic multicultural democracy” emerging as a role model of how to make diversity work? Or do a toxic combination of immigration and multiculturalism pose an existential threat to our social fabric and survival as a democratic nation? Both arguments were advanced from the senior echelons of government…

Success rate of minority-led businesses lags behind that of white…

THE success rates of ethnic minority led businesses are lower compared to those of their white counterparts despite their enormous contribution to the economy, a new report has revealed. The report called for strong engagement between business leaders, the government and people from ethnic minority backgrounds to boost diversity in…

Business body calls for inclusive finance to empower minority firms

THE London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the government to work with financial institutions to overcome barriers around access to finance to achieve diversity in business. The trade body made a submission to the Treasury select committee’s inquiry into SME finance with several recommendations to support women…

Seema Malhotra MP encourages South Asians to become organ donors

SEEMA MALHOTRA MP and healthcare workers have urged South Asians to sign up to become organ and stem cell donors at an event held in the House of Commons, a statement said. The awards ceremony was hosted by the MP to recognise the work of volunteers for Upahaar, a charity…

Met aims 20 per cent increase in BAME representation by…

A CONCERTED effort to increase ethnic minority representation is part of cultural reforms within the Metropolitan Police service after it emerged that more than 1,000 officers are currently suspended or on restricted duties. Out of the Met’s workforce of about 34,000 officers, 201 are suspended and around 860 are on…

Protection officers accused of racist remarks towards Malala Yousafzai

A former detective inspector has accused West Midlands police protection officers tasked with safeguarding Pakistani human rights activist Malala Yousafzai of using derogatory language towards her, the MailOnline reported. Rebecca Kalam alleged that the officers referred to Malala as 'Tikka Masala,' a deeply offensive term, on multiple occasions. This disturbing…

Leo Quinn: ‘What you do going forward matters, not where…

IT IS not often you meet a university dropout who returned to the company he started at as a graduate civil engineer – and is now the group chief executive of one of Britain’s best-known and most successful construction and infrastructure companies. Leo Quinn, who heads Balfour Beatty, is a…

Talking about our history needn’t spark culture war

NOBODY knows whether Nigel Farage will try to play a prominent role in the next General Election. The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader is currently taking a break from electoral politics, to build his profile as a broadcaster both in Britain and America. Yet Farage has found an unusual…

India rejects UN criticism of ‘human rights violations’ in Manipur

INDIA has strongly rejected comments by UN experts on Manipur, terming them “unwarranted, presumptive and misleading” and asserting that situation in the northeast state is peaceful. In the note issued on Monday (4) to the special procedures branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Indian…

New project to increase diversity in breast cancer clinical trials

A new pilot project supported by the NHS Race and Health Observatory was announced today (31) to increase the number of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority patients taking part in potentially life-enhancing breast cancer clinical trials. The project is in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, Roche Products Ltd, and two…

We need diversity among key film and TV decision makers:…

KRISHNENDU MAJUMDAR has called a wrap after three years as chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), to be succeeded by his deputy, Sara Putt. Majumdar was the first nonwhite person to occupy the post since Bafta was set up 76 years ago on April 16,…

Lionesses’ legacy in women’s World Cup ‘will help Asian girls’

ENGLAND’S performance in the just concluded football women’s World Cup final will help create a “really rich pipeline” of future talent, an influential Asian leader said, as others predicted a positive legacy despite the Lionesses’ defeat last Sunday (20). Spain beat European champions England 1-0 in the final match in…

Exclusive: Health secretary says NHS has ‘zero tolerance for racism’

RACISM has no place in the National Health Service, the health secretary has told Eastern Eye. His comments come after doctors’ leaders made clear that medics of colour were more likely to face complaints and disciplinary hearings than their white colleagues. Two years ago (August 2021) this newspaper revealed that…

Sanam Harrinanan opens up about lack of opportunities since winning…

Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan, who won the winter series of the popular dating show Love Island in March, have revealed that they have not had many opportunities since winning the show. When fans asked why they were never seen on daytime TV or photoshoots after leaving the Love Island…

Zanib Mian: ‘I want to educate through non-preachy, real stories’

AUTHOR Zanib Mian said she wanted to give readers “a window into the lives of everyday Muslims” with her new children’s book, Meet the Maliks – Twin Detectives. Aimed at primary school children, the story revolves around twins Maysa and Musa Malik who set out to solve the mystery of…

Disparity in insecure work rates is ‘structural racism’

THE number of black and minority ethnic (BME) workers in insecure work has more than doubled over the last decade, a new analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) revealed on Monday (14), calling for government action. The TUC, an umbrella group of 48 unions comprising more than 5.5 million…

Ministers urged to act on lack of diversity among school…

SOUTH Asian-origin teachers continue to be under-represented in schools in England, government figures show. People of Indian origin make up 3.6 percent of the working age population, but only two per cent of teachers in state schools. Individuals of Pakistani heritage account for 2.8 per cent of working population compared…

Smart move in switching to law from medicine pays off…

AYESHA SMART, the youngest-ever ethnic minority crown court judge in the UK, hopes the story of her career – from being a pathologist in a hospital to practising law – will inspire other people of colour and women. Smart, 35, was last month appointed as a recorder in crown courts…

George Alagiah and the story of who we are today

WHO were the first Asian faces that you remember featuring regularly on television? Beyond the specialist Asian community programmes on a Sunday morning, there were pretty slim pickings across the ‘eighties. The Eastenders portrayal of everyday East London life would depict one Asian family at a time in Albert Square,…

Doctors call for action as ethnic groups with learning disabilities…

PEOPLE from an ethnic minority with learning disabilities have a life expectancy that is almost half that of their white counterparts, a survey has shown, sparking calls for a “quantum change” in care provided to the group. Research by the NHS Race and Health Observatory, published on Tuesday (25), found…

Sri Lanka on high alert as activists observe anniversary of…

SRI LANKA tightened security last Sunday (23) as activists lit oil lamps in Colombo commemorating the hundreds killed in 1983 anti-Tamil riots that fuelled a deadly civil war. "Let's not forget the slaughter of Tamils," read a banner carried by members of North-South Solidarity, a group of rights defenders from…

Report reveals pay gap of Asian women

A NEW report has called for closing the ethnicity pay gap which could lead to a rise in wages for black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani women in the UK. Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani women earned 15 to 16 per cent less than white British workers, the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic…

Higher rates of ethnic minority stillbirths at Derby and Burton…

A NEW study has found black and Asian women are experiencing higher rates of stillbirth at Derby and Burton’s hospitals, writes Eddie Bisknell. It comes three months after Derbyshire officials said ethnicity was not felt to be a factor in rising local stillbirth rates. Data from the University Hospitals of…

Asian author Rabiah Hussain’s play shows how politicians ‘manipulate’ society

WRITER Rabiah Hussain said the idea of her second production, Word-Play, came from listening to the controversial rhetoric of some politicians and seeing the “trickle down effect” it had on society. Word-Play is centred on a loose-cannon prime minister whose Islamophobic comments go viral and cause uproar in the country.…

Police vow reform with New Met for London

THE Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said he is determined to “cut the cancer” out of the police force as he announced plans to reform the organisation. An independent review in March found the Met Police to be “institutionally racist, misogynistic, homophobic” and unable to police itself. It…

More British Asians seek university education, white Britons less inclined

THE proportion of British Asian and other ethnic minority candidates applying for UK universities has increased this year while interest from white Britons has declined. There were 52,460 applicants of British Asian background, up four per cent over the previous year and the number of white Britons applying for degree…

Latest data calls for swift action on judicial diversity

THE new statistics published by the ministry of justice on Thursday (13) indicated the need for accelerated efforts in enhancing diversity within the judiciary. According to the new data, women now make up 37 per cent of judges in courts, compared to 54 per cent of tribunal judges. There are…

Lewis Hamilton supports youth in Bradford to pursue career in…

A new campaign has been launched in Bradford to support young people to take up careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and motorsports, a statement said. The Fuelling Futures campaign is being organised by The Leap, Bradford’s creative people and places programme, Bradford College and Bradford Council. Lewis…

‘More champions needed to dispel dementia stigma among Asians’

MORE champions are needed to talk about dementia and raise awareness among south Asian communities in the UK, Alzheimer’s Society ambassador, Dr Karan Jutlla, has said. A survey in May to mark Dementia Action Week showed that one in three people (33 per cent) who noticed symptoms of dementia in…

Study calls for ‘proactive policies’ to ensure equitable access to…

'PROACTIVE' policies and practices are needed to provide equitable access to social housing for ethnic minority communities in Scotland, new research concluded. The study, conducted by Shelter Scotland, CEMVO and Heriot-Watt University, said improvements should be made to housing systems and processes to ensure an "anti-racist" culture. There should also…

UK Parliament hosts inaugural Indian Independence Day celebration

A unique event commemorating India's 76th year of independence took place at the UK Parliament complex, receiving cross-party support and the endorsement of the India (Trade and Investment) All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). The event was organised by the 1928 Institute, a British Indian think tank, and featured a special…

Danny Beales: Johnson’s comments, immigration bill have let down ethnic…

THE LABOUR candidate to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip has said the former prime minister played a part in ethnic minorities losing “trust in democracy and public life”. Danny Beales is the Labour candidate for the byelection in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which became…

NHS has unacceptable levels of racism: Royal College of Psychiatrist…

LEVELS of racism in the NHS are unacceptable, the president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned, as he cautioned that institutional racism “harms patients and drives psychiatrists and other health practitioners out” of the health service. In his valedictory address as president, Dr Adrian James also criticised employers…

Police chief urges law change for positive discrimination

THE chief constable of West Yorkshire Police, John Robins, has called for a change in the law, allowing police forces to engage in positive discrimination to increase the number of ethnic minority officers, reported The Telegraph. Robins has become the first in England and Wales to address this issue. He…

Buckingham Palace fails to meet diversity target for staff

BUCKINGHAM PALACE has failed to meet its staff diversity goal, as the proportion of employees from ethnic minority backgrounds remains stagnant at 9.7 per cent, according to reports. The original target was 10 per cent by the end of 2022. The King's household has now introduced a revised objective of…

Exclusive: Racism is costing NHS billions

RACISM within the NHS costs the health service an estimated £2.3 billion a year, the former head of the British Medical Association (BMA) has told Eastern Eye, as he warned such discrimination also led to patient safety being compromised. A recent BMA survey said racism is “widespread” within the medical workforce.…

Holland & Barrett’s campaign puts focus on the ethnicity gap…

New research commissioned by leading UK health and wellness retailer Holland & Barrett (H&B) with YouGov reveals inequalities in menopause support for women from black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. It was found that a significant proportion (51 per cent) of these women feel that current advice focuses too much…

Windrush biases still persist, says NHS leaders

THE Windrush generation helped build the NHS in the face of prejudice and systemic racism, issues that still exist today, health leaders said, as they called for “robust action” to address inequalities. Senior leaders of the NHS attended an event in London last Thursday (22) to celebrate the 75-year contribution…

Tanvi Virmani: ‘I’m grateful things are changing for Asians’

YOUNG actress Tanvi Virmani, who will be part of the play, The Crown Jewels, at the Garrick Theatre, believes her taking up a leading role in a restoration period play is a sign of progress for ethnic minority actors in theatre. The play is based on the true story of…

Met commissioner warns against ‘bad execution’ of stop-and-search tactic

THE Metropolitan Police commissioner has said that badly executed stop-and-search tactic can burn trust in the force. Sir Mark Rowley told the News Agents podcast that stop-and-search is in the police 'armoury' but can burn through trust. Recently, home secretary Suella Braverman urged police leaders to 'ramp up' stop-and-search to…

Adil Rashid among British Asians recognised in King’s Birthday Honours…

ENGLAND’S world cup winning cricketer Adil Rashid is among the British Asian names recognised in King Charles’s inaugural Birthday Honours List announced today. With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 11 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, the list showcases the immense…

British Asian votes crucial for Labour’s return to power

With the next UK general election looming over the horizon, upwardly-mobile British Indians will be a critical voter constituency in various parts of the country. In recent times, there has been a fraying of relations between the wider British Indian population and the Labour Party. In the 2015 general election,…

Diversity among UK business leaders poor despite pledges after George…

The number of senior business leaders from ethnically diverse backgrounds has not seen a significant increase since the death of George Floyd and the subsequent corporate pledges to address racial inequality in the workplace, The Guardian reported. A survey conducted by Perspectus Global of 2,000 office workers revealed that nearly…

Survey: Britain best place to live for ethnic minorities, but…

BRITAIN is a better place to live for ethnic minorities than other countries like the US, Germany or France, a new survey has revealed. According to the report, as many as 80 per cent of ethnic minority Britons agree that the UK is a better place to live but added…

‘UK not able to reap benefits of multiculturalism because of…

Britain remains a society that does not “value the benefits of multiculturism,” according to a leading race and equality campaigner, as a new report this week found a majority of ethnic minorities feel the UK is a better country to live in than other western nations. Research published by the…

Windrush 75: Stitching the story into British history

“IT has been an extraordinary journey,” said Alford Gardner, once a 21-year-old former Royal Air Force (RAF) serviceman returning to seek work in Britain and now navigating, in his mid-90s, becoming a crucial living link to an iconic moment in the making of modern Britain. Gardner is one of the…

Anti-racism police team accused of racism: Report

Allegations of racism have emerged within an initiative aimed at combating racism in policing in England and Wales, with some ethnic minority staff involved raising concerns, according to a report. Former members of staff at the Police Race Action Plan told the BBC that their perspectives were ignored. The Action…

Ethnic minority students to get funding to study at Goldsmiths

The City of London Corporation’s education board will provide £320,000 funding to support 35 undergraduate students from ethnic minority backgrounds to study at Goldsmiths, University of London, a statement said. The money will fund bursaries over three years and the students will also get pastoral and academic support. Founded in…

Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston: ‘Diversity in the RAF…

The head of the Royal Air Force (RAF), Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, has said increased diversity in the armed forces is “mission critical” in future battles as he vowed to attract the “brightest and best of every single community”. Currently, 2.1 per cent of all RAF service personnel…

Late diagnosis of autism among British Indians ‘linked to stigma’

British Indian children are being diagnosed with autism nearly two years later on average than white British youngsters, according to a new study. Toddlers of Indian origin in the UK were diagnosed at 68 months, compared to 48 months for their white counterparts. Researchers also found that British Indian parents…

Asian and faith leaders hail king’s service vow

British Asian leaders have praised King Charles for using his coronation  an essentially Christian ceremony which also showcased Britain’s “diversity of faith and communities”  to pledge his life to service. Last Saturday’s (6) coronation of the King as monarch of the UK and 14 Commonwealth countries was the first in…

Survey urges health staff to listen to ethnic minority patients…

Better connections between ethnic minority patients and health care professionals can provide more positive health care experience, a study published on Wednesday (10) said. Patients want health staff to listen to them and allow them to talk, the survey found. Analysis of the social and cultural influences in the experience…

The King must unite Britain, say British Asian community leaders

King Charles has been urged by prominent community and business leaders to use his reign to tackle inequalities within British society. More than 2,200 people will attend the coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (6), among them international representatives from 203 countries as well as community and charity workers. The…

Ethnic minorities, youngsters don’t support monarchy like other Britons do:…

SUPPORT for the monarchy is weaker among young people aged 18-24 and ethnic minorities, according a poll released on Tuesday (2). The Focaldata research for thinktank British Future said around six in ten people in Britain (57 per cent) support the UK having a monarch in King Charles III. One…

Comment: Timeless Coronation will recognise a changing Britain

What is a Coronation for? The King succeeded to the throne automatically at the moment that his mother died last September. But his formal accession naturally played second fiddle to the mourning period for the late Queen last autumn. It is this spring Coronation that offers the monarch an opportunity…

Sadiq Khan: Photo IDs for local polls will alienate Asian,…

London mayor Sadiq Khan has accused the government of trying to alienate “certain groups of people” from the democratic process with the introduction of photo IDs which will be mandatory from next month’s local elections. Voters must show photo ID to get their ballot paper at polling stations on May…

Campaigners to run London Marathon for vitiligo awareness

Shankar and Sultan, who both have vitiligo, will be competing in this year’s London Marathon in aid of Changing Faces, the UK’s leading charity for everyone with a visible difference, including scars, marks and conditions. They believe that having a visible difference shouldn’t stop people from being able to achieve…

EXCLUSIVE: Stop putting Asians in danger

THE home secretary is pandering to right-wing racists and putting south Asian lives in danger, MPs and experts have told Eastern Eye. It follows Suella Braverman’s comments over the weekend (2) that “vulnerable white girls living in troubled circumstances have been abused, drugged, raped, and exploited”. She highlighted cases in…

Rapid rise of British Asian influence in public life

THIS appears to be the age of rising Asian power. Certainly British Asians have never before had so much presence, more voice or more status in British public life. The pace of change has been extraordinary. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf were born in the…

Humza Yousaf’s journey to political success began during school days

Humza Yousaf set new records last month. He became the only Muslim leader of a major UK political party and the first person with an ethnic minority background to lead Scotland’s government. But his journey to political success started during his school days when he inculcated a solid work culture…

Sunak, Yousaf have ‘big responsibility’ to leave behind a positive…

Humza Yousaf on Monday (27) became the first Muslim to be elected as a national leader in any western democracy, five months after Sunak walked into Downing Street as the UK’s first Asian and Hindu prime minister. A prominent Asian parliamentarian told Eastern Eye on Tuesday (28) that both appointments…

South Asians in UK rely financially on support networks upon…

People from Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian ethnic backgrounds were more likely to rely financially on support networks, such as friends and family, upon retirement, than white British people, a research has revealed. Pension participation among ethnic minorities in UK is lower than average, and non-pension sources are expected to play…

Humza Yousuf: ‘We will be the generation that delivers independence…

Humza Yousaf has been elected as the first Muslim leader of Scotland after a tough party contest to replace Nicola Sturgeon. At 37, he is also the youngest leader of the SNP but now faces the challenging task of uniting the Scottish National Party (SNP) around their independence bid. Yousaf's…

Humza Yousaf, the history-maker

“IT is hard for me to find the words”. Humza Yousaf’s emotional response to the news that he has been elected as the Scottish National Party (SNP)’s new leader captures his role as a history-maker. Yousaf’s victory in a bruising leadership contest heralds an unpredictable new era, where the future…

EXCLUSIVE:- Basu: I don’t trust police chiefs to reverse institutional…

THE current crop of Britain’s chief constables cannot be trusted to reverse institutional racism in their forces, according to the country’s former top south Asian cop, and the National Black Police Association [NBPA]. Ex-assistant commissioner, Neil Basu, made his comments during a wide-ranging interview for the Ramniklal Solanki Pioneers Project…

Casey’s challenge to Met must be sustained if it is…

TRUST in policing matters – but trust must be earned. One of the most harrowing features of the brutal abduction and murder of Sarah Everard was how it highlighted the tragic dangers when those in positions of trust are allowed to abuse the coercive powers of the state without being…

‘Themes of sex and assault can easily stir up race…

In a case that ignited more racial tensions than had been seen for decades (in that particular region of the UK), Eleanor Williams, 22, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and jailed on March 14 for eight-and-a-half years. Preston Crown Court found that she had falsely claimed…

Almost all FTSE 100 companies now have one board member…

Nearly all of the 100 largest publicly listed firms in the UK now have at least one minority ethnic director on their boards, revealed the most recent update from the government-backed Parker Review, which was established in 2017 to increase diversity in Britain’s boardrooms. By the end of 2022, 96…

Former Home Office adviser brands Braverman’s migration policy as ‘cruel…

A former Home Office adviser has branded home secretary Suella Braverman's migration policy as 'racist', adding that it will make the Tories seem 'cruel and heartless'. Nimco Ali, a one-time campaigner for the Tories who left her job as a government adviser in December last year, told the Guardian that…

Call to reduce pension scheme threshold to help Asian women

CAMPAIGNERS have called on the government to lower the figure for auto-enrolment on to pension schemes after research revealed that nearly half of south Asian women in the UK have no savings for retirement. An estimated 17 per cent of south Asian women in employment do not currently meet the…

GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards: Rishi Sunak wins top award

PRIME minister Rishi Sunak, Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham and pathbreaking lawyer Ayesha Vardag were among the winners at the annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards, held at the Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday (7). Sunak took home the coveted GG2 Hammer Award for smashing through the ultimate glass ceiling by…

Rise of the Asian CEO

A DIVERSITY and inclusivity specialist has urged the UK to learn from the boom in the number of Indian-origin CEOs of major organisations and cultivate talent from ethnic minority communities. Last week, US president Joe Biden nominated the former CEO of Mastercard, Ajay Banga, as a preferred candidate to lead…

Neil Basu: Majority of chief constables ‘terrified’ to acknowledge institutional…

BRITAIN’s most senior ethnic minority police officer has said that two-thirds of chief constables are 'terrified’ to acknowledge institutional racism in the force, according to a report. Neil Basu, former head of counter-terrorism, has urged authorities to introduce 'positive discrimination' in recruiting ethnic minorities to help combat the menace, the…

ONS data reveals drop in Covid death rate for most…

THE mortality rates for different ethnic communities continued to decline between January and November 2022, when Omicron was the dominant Covid variant, the new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data has revealed. During the period, mortality rates decreased for males and females from the Bangladeshi, black Caribbean, Pakistani and Other…

EXCLUSIVE: ‘They tried to destroy me’

A “small and privileged” unnamed racist group has cost Yorkshire County Cricket Club millions of pounds in sponsorship and legal fees, and it is one of the reasons why Lord Patel of Bradford is walking away from the game he loves. In an exclusive interview, Patel told Eastern Eye that…

‘Local monitoring and interventions’ needed to prevent homelessness among ethnic…

A new policy paper has called for targeted interventions to end homelessness among ethnic minorities in UK as it found stark inequalities in this segment in the country, a statement said. According to the policy paper, Bangladeshi, black African, black Other, and Pakistani groups are more than twice as likely…

‘Dementia’s one-size-fits-all support fails south Asians’

EVERY three minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with dementia – around 210,000 a year – and 25,000 people with dementia are from ethnic minorities. Dementia is on the rise everywhere, but it’s going to hit ethnic minorities the hardest – with an expected 700 per cent increase in…

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Diversity is mission critical for the Royal Air Force’

FROM where Sir Mike Wigston sits, he can see the most famous address in Britain – 10, Downing Street. “It’s good I can see what’s going on,” he says with something of a wry smile, showing Eastern Eye his impressive office. Mike Wigston is how he was born, but today…

Mental health racial bias ‘still persists’ and on some key…

The joint committee on the draft mental health bill has said that mental health racial bias still persists and may even be getting worse. The report urged ministers to use legislation to address racial disparity which is prevalent in the mental health sector in England and Wales, The Guardian reported.…

‘Asian pensioners need help to avoid slipping into poverty’

URGENT action needs to be taken to prevent more Asian elderly people being plunged into poverty, charities and MPs have urged. They have also backed calls to raise the state pension amount further, to lower the threshold for auto-enrolment in workplace pension schemes and for more education for workers of…

More Black, Asian heritage donors needed to help patients seeking…

A new report published on Thursday (12) by NHS Blood and Transplant has shown that there is a significant requirement for more organ donors of Black and Asian heritage to help the growing number of patients seeking life-saving transplants. NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special…

New study lauds digital apps’ potential to tackle health inequalities

A new analysis of National Health Service (NHS) data has revealed a lack of coordination which is limiting insight into how online healthcare services and apps are used by ethnicity and to tackle health inequalities. A new report published on Friday (6) by the NHS Race and Health Observatory reviews…

Asian families avoid British countryside due to ‘white and middle…

A British Asian BBC presenter has said that Asian families avoid visiting countryside in UK due to the impression that these areas are 'white and middle class' and are not 'minority friendly'. BBC Radio 5 Live host Nihal Arthanayke pointed out that social media trolls have created such an image…

Windrush 75th anniversary sees huge support from British society: ‘Like…

The 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush in the UK, which marked a key moment in the country's history of migration, is a "Diamond Jubilee for modern, diverse Britain", according to campaigners. Voices from across British society – from sport and culture to politics, faith and business…

NHS wants interview panels to explain the selection of white…

NHS bosses want interview panels to prepare a report explaining why they hired a white person over someone from an ethnic minority background, according to a report. Staff at the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust in north London are told to prepare reports justifying why the successful candidate was 'suitable’…

EYE SPY: The best of 2022

THE world of performing arts quickly moved on from Covid-19 with an amazing array of wonderful work. Whether it was films, songs, live performances, web serials, stage shows and everything else, top talents made up for lost time and entertained audiences with boundary-breaking projects that offered something new and cool…

Racism ‘fundamental cause’ of Covid-19 vaccination hesitancy in ethnic minorities

Racism is the “fundamental cause” of Covid-19 vaccination hesitancy among ethnic minority groups, a new briefing has revealed, calling for policy intervention to “dismantle” the systems that cause and perpetuate inequities.While hesitancy within the white population is just over 10 per cent for white Britons, the proportion is about 30…

‘Racial Bias’ hits Asian mothers

URGENT action needs to be taken to tackle racial health inequalities in maternity care, the NHS’s policy lead on race equality has told Eastern Eye, after a damning report found that the majority of interventions over the last 40 years did not include a specific focus on race, ethnicity or…

Discrimination in hiring best way to convince people about racism:…

Highlighting an Oxford University research on race-based inequalities in hiring is the best way to convince people that racism is a real problem, a new study found.Reframing Race, a charity, presented several anti-racism arguments to close to 20,000 people in England and Scotland to understand which message moved the respondents…

Cultural expectations force one in 10 ethnic minority workers to…

Cultural expectations often make people lie about or hide their career choices from their families with ethnic minorities feeling the pressure more than their white counterparts, a new study found. Some 40 per cent of ethnic minorities do not disclose their career decisions to their loved ones compared to about…

New study finds gaps in ethnicity research in maternal care

The NHS Race and Health Observatory has been calling for the development of a central data repository to map improvements around reducing poor outcomes in maternal and neonatal healthcare for Black, Asian and ethnic minority women. And now, a new research carried out by the independent health organisation, the University of…

EXCLUSIVE: Shame of ‘All-White’ BBC newsrooms

THE BBC should be ashamed that it has radio and television stations where newsrooms are entirely white and not representing the communities they serve. That is the feeling of current staff and former employees who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They said they warned the BBC that it would not…

Charity appeals for more donors from diverse backgrounds to save…

Someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer every 20 minutes and the number of stem-cell donors, the saviours needed to save thousands of such patients, is not adequate at the moment. DKMS, a UK-based international charity which fights blood cancer and disorders, has found that the registration of…

Bringing people together in a changing Britain

HOW should we talk about a changing Britain? The 2021 census gives us the facts about who we are today. It is up to us to decide how to respond. Any constructive argument about how to respond to our changing demographics would need to meet three simple tests. Does it…

68 per cent of ethnic minority workers in UK’s finance…

Almost seven out of 10 (68 per cent) people with ethnic minority backgrounds experienced discrimination at work within the UK’s financial services industry in the last year, new research showed, despite the country becoming increasingly more diverse.The survey conducted by the racial harmony campaigner Reboot and Coleman Parkes said 82…

Ethnic minorities of Belfast face racism, isolation: Research

Many ethnic minority residents of Belfast including Asians have continued to experience “racism, isolation and poverty” impacting their social and personal life, new research has revealed. Researchers, who interviewed more than 100 people from black, Asian, minority ethnic and Traveller communities, found there were inequalities across education, work and access…

EXCLUSIVE: “Ticking time of disparities”

Civic leaders, MPs, experts and senior doctors have warned that the UK is sitting on a “ticking time bomb of disparities” among south Asian and black communities. They told Eastern Eye that the 2021 census figures, released on Tuesday (29 November) should raise concerns among government. They urged ministers to…

Every faith in Britain is a minority faith now

The census results offer a once-a-decade statistical snapshot of the society that we all live in. So it should be little surprise that they confirm that this is an ethnically diverse and more secular society. The census has run for two centuries, this 2021 edition is only the fourth to…

Braverman announces £15m funding for women victims of violence 

UK home secretary Suella Braverman on Friday (25) allocated £15 million funding to tackle violence against women and girls, a statement said. Out of the total allocation, £8.4m is being awarded to fund specialist support services for the most vulnerable. According to the statement, majority of the money will go…

‘We will harness skills, talents of whole society’

THIS month we have marked Equal Pay Day, the day that the Fawcett Society calculates that women effectively stop earning relative to their male equivalents. This year, that day fell on November 20. It’s shocking that we still have to raise awareness of the gender pay gap, or that such…

UK’s alcohol problem leading to increased strain on relationships

In the UK, the misuse of alcohol is estimated to cost the NHS £3.6 billion a year. Also, crime related to alcohol in England and Wales was estimated to cost society about £11.4 billion a year. At present, a report has suggested that an increasing number of relationships are breaking…

Asian-origin family claims NHS’ racial stereotyping caused senior member’s death:…

A grieving family has alleged that racial stereotyping by a hospital in London led to the death of one of its senior members, whose Hepatitis C remained undiagnosed for decades, Channel 4 News reported. Sultana Chowdhury, who had moved to the UK from Bangladesh in the late 1980s, was allegedly…

Covert racism part of life for some at Unicef UK,…

An independent audit into the working of Unicef UK revealed that some people of colour at the charity regularly experienced covert racism.Covert racism and unconscious bias are “part of life” for some workers at the organisation, the review, proactively commissioned by it, said.Leadership specialist Full Colour, which conducted the audit…

People of Asian backgrounds account for 8 per cent of…

People with Asian backgrounds accounted for nine per cent of all strip searches in police custody in England and Wales in the year to March 2022, official data released by the Home Office showed. This was slightly higher than the proportion of people of Asian ethnicities held in custody during…

Around half of asthma-hit kids admitted in London hospitals are…

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…

Workplace bias ‘hinders Asians’

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),…

Pay doesn’t reflect minority ethnic Britons’ academic success: Study

In a finding that would concern many, a study published by London's Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said while most minority ethnic groups in the UK have made significant progress in terms of educational achievement, "clear evidence" of discrimination in their pay and careers has remained. The study found…

British Asians suffer largest fall in planned hospital care during…

British Asians experienced a much larger fall than other groups in planned hospital care during the pandemic, new analysis has revealed, highlighting how the health emergency worsened racial disparities. While age- and sex-standardised procedure rates fell by 44 per cent in the white group, the drop in elective procedure rates…

EXCLUSIVE: MPs urge ministers stop demonising immigrants

The government must embrace immigrants who take risks setting up businesses, create jobs, and contribute billions of pounds to Britain’s economy. That is the call from MPs and business leaders who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They have told this newspaper that the home secretary, Suella Braverman, should be ashamed…

Ethnic minority accents rank lowest in prestige hierarchy: Research

Accents associated with England’s industrial cities and ethnic minorities including Indians are ranked the lowest in the prestige hierarchy, new research has revealed. People from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to be mocked or singled out because of the way they speak, the study by academics from the Accent…

RSS, Hindutva not involved in Leicester riots: Think Tank

After investigations into the recent clashes involving some Muslims and Hindus in the city of Leicester, a UK-based think tank has debunked the narratives that RSS and Hindutva groups played part in the violent clashes, putting the wider Hindu community at risk from hate, vandalism and assault. https://twitter.com/HJS_Org/status/1588588731040411648?s=20&t=YGWMu5HCwDePRTaElFyxfQ Charlotte Littlewood,…

Cardiff head teacher Reena Patel hopes sharing her experiences with…

A head teacher from ethnic minority background has revealed that she was called racist names by children while working in Wales, according to reports. Reena Patel, who works at Kitchener Primary in Cardiff, now wants to make her school anti-racist by providing to white teachers, reported the BBC. Notably, nine…

EXCLUSIVE: Starmer tells Asians: “Thank you for making Britain better”

LABOUR does not take the British south Asian vote for granted, party leader Sir Keir Starmer told Eastern Eye. He also revealed his determination to work as “grown up” partners with the communities and his ambition to be the next prime minister. In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview prior to…

Based on his track record, it is clear Rishi is…

Being the first ethnic minority in any job brings a lot of pressure and becoming Prime Minister, particularly in the current climate, is no easy feat. As the first woman of colour in the Welsh Parliament, I have no qualm in saying that any role where a person bears the…

“Succeed or fail, Sunak will be held to a higher…

I’m a patriot, I’m proud to be British, but I’m also realistic, writes Barnie Choudhury. It pains me to have to justify myself. Yet I feel I must. Why? Because I am a brown man, who was not born in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. I am an immigrant,…

‘An important yet curiously understated moment in British social history’

WHAT should you give a man who has got almost everything for Diwali? Most of Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary colleagues decided, after all, that the answer was the leadership of the Conservative party, unopposed, and the chance to be Prime Minister of his country. There are rarely many political rewards for…

Judge Geoffrey Vos warns social conversation on sports and opera…

Britain’s second most senior judge Sir Geoffrey Vos warned that social conversation on sports and opera could inadvertently exclude women and ethnic minorities.They “are not always made to feel welcome and included” in the legal working environment, the Master of the Rolls said and urged lawyers and judges at all…

“It was quite empowering”, says Britain’s first hijab-wearing police officer

BRITAIN’S first hijab wearing police officer is hoping she can inspire more people from the south Asian community to join a “very diverse” force. Khadeejah Mansur joined the Leicestershire Police force in October 2020 because she wanted to “represent our diverse communities, especially here in Leicester”. “The message I want…

‘Northern Ireland police service need more officers from ethnic minorities’

People from ethnic minority backgrounds should be recruited more to Northern Ireland police service, the president of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) has said. Andy George, who was the first member of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to reach the top post at NBPA, has said that…

Indians largest group that overstays UK visas? Lord Karan Bilimoria…

British-Indian businessman Karan Bilimoria has disagreed with UK home secretary Suella Braverman that Indians are the "largest group of people who overstay" their visas in the UK. Speaking with Economic Times Online over phone, Lord Bilimoria, a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, said he was surprised because the…

White teachers must teach ethnic minority pupils national anthem, says…

The chair of UK's Social Mobility Commission has said that white teachers should teach ethnic minority students to sing the national anthem to nurture the sense of belonging, media reports said. Katharine Birbalsingh, known as Britain's strictest headteacher, also criticised the destructive identity politics molding school culture and efforts to…

Sadiq Khan endorses London Chamber’s report on curbing barriers for…

London mayor Sadiq Khan has publicly accepted the recommendations made by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (LCCI) report on removal of ethnicity-based obstacles hurting success in business. His endorsement of 'Ethnic Diversity in Business: Removing barriers impeding business success' is the first-ever instance of a public authority recognising…

Suella Braverman blames Leicester riots on new migrants: ‘Unexamined drive…

Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has blamed the recent “riots” in Leicester following an India-Pakistan cricket match on uncontrolled migration into the UK and the failure of newcomers to integrate. In her first speech since being appointed home minister at the Conservative Party annual conference in Birmingham on Tuesday…

Iran’s security force arrest woman for eating at restaurant without…

The Iranian security forces arrest a woman for eating at a restaurant in public without her hijab, according to her family. Donya Rad was arrested after a photo of her and another woman eating at a Tehran restaurant without their headscarves was widely circulated online, reported CNN. The photo emerged…

Coach Manisha Tailor calls for greater diversity in football

Football coach and author Manisha Tailor has called for action to bring more British Asian women to the top division of the game.Despite making up the largest single ethnic minority female group, South Asian women account for just 0.3 per cent in the top division of football.Tailor, who trained as…

Racially and religiously aggravated crimes hit record high in England…

Racially and religiously aggravated crimes have hit new record in England and Wales, according to the latest figures from the Home Office. Police are investigating more than 80,133 crimes motivated by either racism or religious intolerance in the year ending March 2022, reported the Wales Online. There were 76,884 offences…

EXCLUSIVE: “King Charles be defender of all faiths” 

SENIOR SOUTH ASIAN and Black leaders have urged King Charles to make sure their communities continue to have a strong influence on Britain’s future. While he was a prince, the new monarch was outspoken on issues which concerned him. They included highlighting the dangers of climate change, the benefits of…

Monarchy can be more relevant than ever in a changing…

The Britain that mourns the end of the longest reign in history is a different country from the one in which a 26-year-old Elizabeth was crowned. So the Queen was mourned this week with condolences in churches and synagogues, temples, mosques and gurdwaras, reflecting how a 99 per cent white…

Rights groups urge Met Police chief to scrap facial recognition…

Campaign groups come together to urge the Metropolitan Police to do away with the “privacy-eroding” facial recognition technology. In an open letter to Sir Mark Rowley, the new commission of the force, 14 charities including Big Brother Watch, Liberty and Black Lives Matter UK, claimed that the technology was “inaccurate…

Sadiq Khan to come up with book on tackling climate…

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan is coming up with a book on tackling the climate emergency. According to the publisher Hutchinson Heinemann, Breathe, which will be launched next year, is a “seven-step guide to winning support for tough climate action”. Since becoming mayor in 2016, Khan introduced the world's first ultra-low…

Liz Truss’s cabinet is Britain’s first without white man in…

The new British Prime Minister Liz Truss has selected a cabinet where for the first time a white man will not hold one of the country's four most important ministerial positions. Truss appointed Kwasi Kwarteng – whose parents came from Ghana in the 1960s – as Britain's first Black finance…

What to do now? The question for Rishi Sunak and…

Rishi Sunak never failed at anything before. At 42 years of age, the Winchester head boy who won glittering prizes at Oxford and Stanford, earning millions in finance before marrying into the billionaire classes, and who was Britain’s most popular Chancellor for half a century, has finally hit a professional…

Indian man racially abused in Poland, called ‘parasite’ and told…

An Indian man has been racially abused allegedly by an American, who called him a “parasite” and “an invader” and told him to "go back to your country”. The Indian, whose identity has not yet been established, was filmed in a video that has gone viral on social media. It…

‘We must focus on action while talking about race’

BRITAIN will not get its first Asian prime minister next week, unless every prediction and poll has got it wrong. Former chancellor and Tory leadership candidate Rishi Sunak found himself in the wrong economy at the wrong time. Though he was Britain’s most popular chancellor earlier in the pandemic, the…

Dr Karan Jutlla appointed new Alzheimer’s Society ambassador; says ‘outdated’…

Dr Karan Juttla, author of a report which has claimed that South Asian people living with dementia in the UK and their families are being failed by a culturally inclusive support after their diagnoses, has been appointed as the new ambassador of Alzheimer's Society. Her appointment came on the occasion…

EXCLUSIVE: Rishi Sunak says Britain ready for an Asian prime…

BRITAIN is ready for an Asian prime minister, Rishi Sunak has said, as the prime ministerial hopeful revealed he was “stung” by racism as a child, but now believes Conservative voters will judge him on his policies, rather than his ethnicity, in the leadership race. In a wide-ranging, exclusive interview…

New action plan to ‘unblock’ political culture clash on race…

New agenda for action on race inequality in employment, education, health, civil service and online New proposals for action on racial inequality across Britain’s institutions – from employment, schools and justice to the NHS, civil service and online ­– are set out today in a new collection from thought leaders…

Asians and Black patients in England wait longer than white…

Asians have to wait five days longer than white people for cancer diagnosis in England in what campaigners call “absolutely unacceptable” racial inequality. The median waiting period for a white person for diagnosis after presenting symptoms to a GP is 55 days and it is 60 days for Asians, a…

Racism and bullying widespread in Cabinet Office, leaked report reveals

The Cabinet Office, dominated by people with “posh” London accents, is accused of being institutionally racist with perpetrators going unpunished, according to an internal review. The leaked report, which revealed that 10 per cent of the 10,000-strong staff experienced bullying and harassment, comes amid calls for a zero-tolerance approach to…

I want to change UK-India relationship to make it more…

Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak has said he wants to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India. Addressing a gathering of British Indian Conservative Party members who are voting in the election to…

Royal Air Force resorted to ‘positive discrimination’ to meet diversity…

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…

Be part of something big – rare chance to join…

Londoners are being invited to apply for one of the most exciting volunteer roles possible, as London Ambulance Service (LAS) aims to triple its number of emergency responders – specially trained volunteers who help save lives across the capital. The Service has launched a recruitment campaign for volunteers and is…

Nazir Afzal claims local authorities across north declined to launch…

A number of local authorities across northern towns have refused to launch reviews into child sexual exploitation in their areas, former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal has alleged. Afzal, who is now Chancellor at the University of Manchester, added that the 'culture of denial' in these councils must be tackled. He…

Events like Commonwealth Games, Jubilee can bridge social divides: report

Events such as this summer’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Women’s Euros and Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games have a very important role to play in breaking down prejudice and stereotypes in society, according to a new report by think tank British Future for a major Inquiry by Spirit of 2012, published on…

‘Economy, not ethnicity, may cost Sunak the race’

MEET Richie Saint, a capable, charming but ultimately imaginary politician bidding to be prime minister of this country. The son of a GP and a chemist was head boy at a top private school, with a first in PPE at Oxford followed up by a Stanford MBA. Saint met his…

EXCLUSIVE: Don’t let racism stop Sunak winning

A minority of racists among Conservative grassroots members could stop Rishi Sunak from becoming the first non-white prime minister. That is the concern among some south Asian Tories who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They are concerned that Britain is “not ready to take orders from a brown boy”. They…

Commonwealth nations join hands to expand organ donation, tackle health…

As part of the Commonwealth Games legacy, 43 Commonwealth countries and 19 national and international organisations have come together to share expertise in organ donation and transplantation to save more lives. The Commonwealth Tribute to Life Project, led by NHS Blood and Transplant, is the culmination of three years’ work…

Minority ethnic groups paid more Covid fines than white Britons…

Institutional bias in policing contributed to minority ethnic groups receiving disproportionately more fines than white Britons during pandemic restrictions, a study revealed.The research cited by the Guardian said the police approach “legitimised a differential approach to enforcement that reflected pre-existing biases in policing”.The biases included the beliefs about which types…

25,000 people from ethnic minority communities are living with dementia:…

New research unveiled at Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2022 (AAIC) in San Diego has found people who had encountered wide-ranging discrimination and experiences of racism displayed memory and cognitive problems in later life. The results of two studies suggest past discriminatory events experienced by people in ethnic minority communities can…

EXCLUSIVE: Breast cancer warning for Asian women

ASIAN women are being urged to carry out regular checks of their breasts and attend screenings after a study found they were delaying in presenting with breast cancer symptoms – which means they are more likely to die from the disease than their white counterparts. A study commissioned by the…

An Asian prime minister is ‘now just a matter of…

LIZ TRUSS or Rishi Sunak will become Britain’s next prime minister in September. A fierce ‘blue on blue’ contest is underway, though the two candidates actually have much in common. As Boris Johnson’s foreign secretary and chancellor, respectively, they were the more experienced leadership candidates against insurgent rivals. Both are…

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Sunak is a battle hardened leader’

FORMER health secretary Matt Hancock has described Rishi Sunak as an “incredible talent” and a proven decision-maker who would make a “great” prime minister. Sunak, who resigned as the chancellor earlier this month, is expected to be in the final two in the race to become prime minister after he…

Calls grow for judicial diversity as data reveal 95 per…

There are fresh calls for overhauling the judicial appointments process as the latest statistics reveal that 95 per cent of senior judges in England and Wales are white barristers.Critics feel that the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has a long way to go in fully meeting its objective of making the…

UK parents urged to help their kids get active over…

PARENTS of primary school children across England are being encouraged to get their kids active over the summer holidays, as the government relaunches its 10 Minute Shake Up campaign. The campaign – delivered by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and supported by Disney ­– returns in full…

Maternity disparities taskforce discusses faith & human rights recommendations

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…

Racism, sexism and Islamophobia were not taken seriously by Labour…

THE racist, sexist and otherwise discriminatory culture in Britain's Labour Party is undermining its efforts to promote itself as a trailblazer on diversity and inclusion, a damning report has said. It added that antisemitism was treated as a 'factional weapon' by both supporters and opponents of former leader Jeremy Corbyn…

White men still dominate senior positions across British retail: Report

A new survey has revealed that British retailers need to work more to improve diversity at the top of their businesses as white men still dominate senior positions. The survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and executive search firm The MBS Group has said that over a third of…

Army of volunteers join NHS trial to detect deadly cancer…

OVER 140,000 people have flocked to take part in the world’s largest trial of a blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer, as part of the latest NHS (National Health Service) drive to catch the disease when it is easier to treat. NHS chief executive Amanda…

Comedian Paul Chowdhry attacked while driving in London

British Indian comedian Paul Chowdhry said he was attacked when he was driving in central London, in yet another incident of ethnic minority people becoming targets of thugs.He confirmed the incident in an Instagram message on Saturday but said he was “fine”.His message came in response to two posts which…

Ancestral ties: India avidly watching British leadership race

HALF a world away from the political drama in London, many Indians are closely following the twists and turns of who replaces Boris Johnson as British prime minister, curious to see how two candidates with Indian ancestry fare. Rishi Sunak, the bookmakers' favourite to prevail, and Suella Braverman are campaigning…

EXCLUSIVE: Leadership race shows how diversity is the ‘new normal’…

Prime minister Boris Johnson certainly went down fighting. Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak had decided that enough was enough, resigning last week from the Cabinet over Downing Street’s inability to tell the truth. Fifty ministerial resignations later, the refusal of the prime minister to accept that the game was up…

UK releases new statutory guidance on identifying & responding to…

THE home office on Friday (8) published a new statutory guidance on identifying and responding to domestic abuse and its impact on victims. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Statutory Guidance will ensure victims are supported to access frontline support that meets the complexity of their needs, by ensuring that the…

Why tackling racism is integral to ending poverty

LAST week, the House of Commons International Development Select Committee published a damning report about racism in the development sector. They criticised aid organisations which depict the communities they serve as “helpless and needy” and “strip them of their dignity”, and they took aim at what they described as a…

Top ECB official suspended for ‘racial slur’ against ex-England bowler…

THE England and Wales Cricket Board has suspended a senior official for making a 'racial slur' about former England player Devon Malcolm, The Telegraph reported. The employee was stood down pending an investigation into an alleged jibe made earlier this season about being unable to see Malcolm until he smiles,…

Government aims to eliminate racial disparities with landmark mental health…

PEOPLE experiencing a mental health emergency will be able to access more care in the community, such as through crisis houses and safe havens, and those detained under the Mental Health Act will benefit from landmark reforms which provide patients with more control over their care and treatment. A £150…

Everyone living in the UK must have free access to…

LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday (22) urged the government to provide free NHS care for everyone living in the UK to prevent another potential Windrush scandal.  On Windrush Day (June 22), Khan called for an end to the NHS charging regulations for migrants which impacts undocumented Londoners as they…

UK MPs join call on government, institutions to make 75th…

AS a new national monument was unveiled on Wednesday (22) marking the anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving in Britain, actor Lenny Henry, poet Benjamin Zephaniah, broadcaster Trevor Phillips, London mayor Sadiq Khan and cross-party parliamentarians including Steve Baker, Diane Abbott and Baroness Doreen Lawrence have joined a public call…

Shocking! Nearly 70% of ethnic minority NHS leaders experienced racism…

More than half of black and minority ethnic (BME) NHS leaders considered leaving the health service in the last three years because of their experience of racist treatment while performing their role as an NHS leader, according to an NHS ConfederationThe online survey, conducted between April and May this year,…

Social mobility plan ‘in denial’ about inequalities

KATHARINE BIRBALSINGH, the head of Michaela Community School in west London and Boris Johnson’s social mobility chief, made her first major speech last Thursday (9). She said society should stop fixating on getting poor children to university and celebrate “small steps up the ladder” instead of “rags to riches” stories…

‘Give people a vote on expanding the Senedd’

HAVING been elected as the first woman of colour to the Welsh parliament in May 2021, I know there has been immense pressure on the Labour government to see more diversity in the Senedd. Labour and Plaid Cymru are determined to squeeze more politicians into the Senedd, a contentious move…

ECB charge Yorkshire and seven individuals following Azeem Rafiq racism…

THE England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has charged Yorkshire cricket club and seven people for bringing the game into disrepute over racism allegations, according to a report.  However, the board has chosen not to name the individuals, the Sky News reported. The ECB began an investigation in 2021 after…

Pandemic-time health and social care ‘heroes’ faced abuse, investigation finds

FRONTLINE low-paid health and care workers who were branded heroes during the Covid-19 pandemic suffered racism, harassment and bullying, Britain’s top equality body has uncovered. According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), *It may have underestimated the extent of the abuse because employers were not collecting relevant data.…

Black and Asian nurses overlooked for promotion due to structural…

A new study has revealed that NHS nurses from minority ethnic backgrounds were overlooked for promotion due to structural racism, according to a report. It added that white nurses are twice as likely as black and Asian colleagues to be promoted in the NHS, the Guardian reported. A survey of almost…

‘Queen’s Birthday Honours highlight great contribution Asians have made to…

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…

Sir Salman Rushdie heads list of British Asians recognised in…

Author Sir Salman Rushdie and cricketer Moeen Ali are among a number of British Asians honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List published on Wednesday (1). With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 13.3 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, this list showcases…

Neil Basu is no longer in the race for Crime…

THE most senior Asian police officer in the UK is considering lodging an official complaint as he has dropped out of the running to become the head of the National Crime Agency, according to a report. Neil Basu, the former head of counter-terrorism policing, has been told the process to…

‘I don’t believe that dementia is an inevitable part of…

Speaking at Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2022 in central London last Tuesday (18), he confirmed that the plan will focus on how new medicines and emerging science and technology can be harnessed to improve outcomes for dementia patients across the UK. Javid said he wanted the initiative, which would be published…

Why Asians need culturally sensitive mental health support

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…

BMA review: UK failed to protect health staff during the…

A review by a doctors' union has revealed that the UK government failed to protect doctors and the wider healthcare staff at the start of the pandemic, according to a media report. The British Medical Association review said staff were desperately let down by the lack of protective equipment, the…

Britain ready for Asian PM

THE vast majority of Britons say they are comfortable with having a south Asian as their prime minister. A survey by the think-tank, British Future, found that a third of the British public would see an Asian prime minister as a good thing for our country. At least eight in…

Fascist group founder Alex Davies aims for ‘white Britain’

A FASCIST group co-founder has said he wants to see a pre-World War era Britain when it was “overwhelmingly white”. Alex Davies, who set up the now-proscribed outfit NS131, told Winchester Crown Court that his goal can be achieved by "compulsorily deporting" ethnic minorities from the UK “along the lines…

Merseyside police commissioner admits to ‘institutional racism’

EMILY SPURRELL, the elected police and crime commissioner for Merseyside in north-western England, has said the force is “institutionally racist” and called for admitting the generic bias to mend its ways.However, the Labour politician said she did not mean individual officers were racist but referred to the force as a…

India deal is ‘first step as UK eyes speedier growth’

I HAVE been present in India with every UK prime minister since 2005 – from Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron to Theresa May. Being in India last week with Boris Johnson and with Indian business leaders was a crucial visit. It was the first UK prime ministerial visit…

UK watchdog sets diversity targets for firms’ top leaders

WOMEN should make up at least 40 per cent of boards at British listed companies and one director should be a person of colour, the country's financial watchdog said as it set a range of diversity targets for firms' top leaders. At least one senior position such as company chair,…

Sushi maker ‘sent to hospital in taxi’ after he loses…

A SUSHI maker who lost his fingertips while on duty in a food factory accused his employer of being unsupportive to him.The tips of his two fingers came off when Viraj Kakadia was operating an “unsafe and dangerous” vegetable cutting machine at Taiko Foods in Acton, London in January this…

Lord Bilimoria joins consortium aiming to buy Chelsea FC

Influential businessman Lord Karan Bilimoria has been added to the Ricketts family’s bid to buy Chelsea Football Club. The Cobra Beer founder, who is a lifelong Chelsea fan, joins a consortium led by US multi-billionaires Ken Griffin and Dan Gilbert and Tom and Laura Ricketts - owners of the Chicago…

Sailesh Mehta: Judiciary will improve when ‘it reflects the diverse…

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…

Javid extends cancer call for evidence

UK health secretary has announced an extension on the cancer call for evidence to inform an ambitious 10-year cancer plan, a statement said.  As part of the extension given by Sajid Javid, more people can share their experiences and views on how the country can lead the world on cancer…

Exclusive: Asians must get tested for cancer

Getting screened and tested early for cancer is a personal battle, Sajid Javid revealed. Speaking to Eastern Eye, the health secretary, disclosed how his late father was diagnosed too late for the illness. “My father died from cancer, but he died from, firstly, lung cancer, then it spread everywhere,” Javid…

Asian leaders warn of growing pressure on healthcare and the…

AN INFLUENTIAL doctors’ leader has raised concerns about the pressure GPs are likely to face as the imminent cost of living crisis bites, while a leading business figure said higher taxes will stifle economic recovery as he also urged ministers to continue free lateral flow tests beyond March. Dr Chaand…

Lord Dholakia questions government’s levelling-up agenda

LORD DHOLAKIA has questioned the government's commitment to levelling up and equal opportunities for ethnic minorities in the Parliament.  According to him, the actions set out by the government's levelling-up plan do not go nearly far enough to create a more inclusive society. While responding to the minister for work…

COVID-19 health disparities within ethnic communities

The release of the government’s response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities was warmly welcomed by doctors and medical professionals across the country like myself. I was delighted to see the government finally getting to grips on addressing health disparities within ethnic minority communities. The report titled “Inclusive…

Middlesex’s Shah urges to ‘evolve with society’ to achieve diversity…

THE co-chair of Middlesex's equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) committee has urged to 'evolve with society' to achieve diversity goals as communities will continue to change.  In an interview with The Cricketer, Ankit Shah said that the perception of cricket cracked on matters of diversity, inclusion and anti-racism 'can never…

Ethnic minority drivers pay more for motor insurance in Britain

DRIVERS living in areas of Britain where there are a higher proportion of people of colour pay at least £280 more for their annual motor insurance, consumer charity Citizens Advice said on Tuesday (22).The charity carried out research on insurance premiums in eight postcode areas.Everyone in those postcodes pays the…

UK unveils ‘Inclusive Britain’ action plan to tackle racial disparities

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…

NHS launches Commonwealth project to increase organ donation

THE NHS Blood and Transplant has launched a new project bringing together Commonwealth nations to share expertise in organ donation and transplantation to increase ethical organ donation and transplantation.  The 'Tribute to Life' project, launched on Commonwealth Day on Monday (14) by health secretary Sajid Javid, is the culmination of…

KPMG chair Mehta determined to fight unconscious bias

As the first female chair in the 150-year history of KPMG, Bina Mehta could be forgiven for resting on her laurels, thinking she had reached her Everest. But the 52-year-old is determined to continue her fight to breakdown ‘cultural biases’ and see more people like her climb their Everest. “I…

Millions of ethnic minority Americans miss out in US Census,…

US officials have admitted that millions of ethnic minority Americans missed out in the Census while overcounting white and Asian people, according to a report.  The error pointed out a steeper decline in the white population than initially announced, reported The Times. The review by the Census Bureau also found that…

Research shows stark disparities in cancer rates between ethnic groups

NEW research has revealed stark disparities in cancer rates between different ethnic groups in the UK, reported the Guardian. According to the study published in the British Journal of Cancer, black people are twice as likely to get prostate cancer while white people have double the chance of getting skin…

EXCLUSIVE: Don’t stop Covid tests

Business and doctors’ leaders have criticised the government’s decision to stop free lateral flow tests in April. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, announced the decision in his “living with Covid” statement to parliament on Monday (21). He told MPs that all Covid restrictions would end in England on Thursday (24)…

Report: Ethnic differences in Covid mortality change over time

THE excess covid-19 mortality among most ethnic minority groups in the UK has fallen over time compared with the White British group, according to a report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).  During the start of the pandemic, mortality was highest in the black African group but in subsequent waves,…

Fresh approach to tackling persistent vaccine hesitancy

THE spectacular successes of the vaccination and booster rollouts have gone a very long way in pushing omicron into retreat, allowing us to relax the ‘Plan B’ Covid restrictions imposed before Christmas. Yet, there are five million or so people in this country – many from our ethnic minority communities…

Sri Lanka Tamil MPs protest government ‘land grab’

Tamil legislators attempted to storm the Sri Lankan president's office Thursday to protest against what they call a government land grab in areas traditionally dominated by the ethnic minority. Critics accuse the government -- representing the Sinhalese majority -- of breaking promises made at the end of a bloody 37-year…

Deeney calls for teaching of BAME history in school

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…

Taskforce to address disparities in maternity care for minority groups

UK has formed a new maternity disparities taskforce to address disparities in maternity care for women from ethnic minority communities and those living in deprived areas, an official statement said.  Minister for patient safety and primary care Maria Caulfield has established the taskforce which will be co-chaired by chief midwifery officer…

Sajid Javid visits North West and West Midlands healthcare services

UK health secretary Sajid Javid has thanked NHS staff across the North West and West Midlands for their tireless efforts to provide care during the pandemic during his visit to the region.  Javid as part of his ‘Road to Recovery’ tour across England on Wednesday (16) visited Deeplish Community Centre,…

Exclusive: “STOP CULTURE OF POLICE COVER UP”

There must be a root and branch investigation into the culture of racism, misogyny, and Islamophobia in every police service in England and Wales. That is the demand from south Asian and black MPs, as well as serving and past police officers. They have told Eastern Eye that they do…

Covid: £23m to help “community champions” tackle vaccine hesitancy

By Kemi Badenoch THE spectacular successes of the vaccination and booster rollouts have gone a very long way in pushing omicron into retreat, allowing us to relax the ‘Plan B’ Covid restrictions imposed before Christmas. Yet, there are five million or so people in this country – many from our…

Racism is an issue with Met Police, professional standards chief…

A senior officer has admitted that racism is a problem in the Metropolitan Police, however, he denied that Met was a "racist organisation". Deputy assistant commissioner Bas Javid, brother of health secretary Sajid Javid, told BBC Two's Newsnight that some officers "have racist views and are racist". His comments came…

Ethnic minority students prefer undergraduate and postgraduate courses

MORE students from ethnic minority backgrounds were studying for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency showed. In total, 28 per cent of UK students were from ethnic minority backgrounds during last academic year, The Times said. Students from ethnic minority backgrounds on master’s programmes rose…

Report reveals racial health inequality in NHS

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…

Sunder Katwala: Is the UK ready for Rishi Sunak?

As the volatile Westminster mood shifts daily, predictions are perilous. But the bookmakers odds capture the fragility of the prime minister’s position, giving Boris Johnson a one in three chance of remaining in office to the end of this year, and only a one in five chance of fighting a…

Ethnic minority doctors face racism in NHS, says survey

AT LEAST 75 per cent of ethnic minority doctors experienced racism more than once in the last two years, with 17.4 per cent saying they regularly faced racism at work, according to a survey by the British Medical Association (BMA). Doctors told the BBC there was an "us versus them"…

Worry over ‘endemic’ Covid levels in ethnic minorities

ETHNIC minorities with lower uptake of the booster are not seeing the same fall in Covid cases as the wider population in Manchester, public health bosses say. The recent rise in the city’s infection rate has mostly affected white British people who have accounted for more than 60 per cent…

Funding boost to tackle health inequalities among BAME communities

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…

Minorities three times less likely to win a place in…

NEW figures have revealed that people from minority backgrounds were three times less likely than White British applicants to gain entry to the government’s Civil Service Fast Stream programme.   The government skills and curriculum unit has recently published figures covering the last three years’ worth of recruitment for the elite…

EXCLUSIVE: The outsider who became an insider

Aaqil Ahmed should not have succeeded. Working class. A northerner. Brown. A Muslim. Definitely an outsider. Definitely a maverick. When you look at his 30-year career, which he celebrates this year, you know that sheer hard work, determination and bloody-mindedness – the south Asian way – were just some of…

What’s in a name? Top choices for Asian babies

ONS data reveals popular picks among ethnic minority parents THE most popular Muslim, Hindu and Sikh baby names in England and Wales have been revealed. Among the top 100 boys names in 2020 were Adam, Ibrahim, Muhammad, Mohammed, Yusuf and Sonny, according to new data from the Office for National…

Students seek drastic boost in Covid support from universities

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…

New Year honours: Kamlesh Khunti, Sara Khan and Nitin Ganatra…

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…

Britain’s Black doll makers rush to meet demand for diversity

BRITISH entrepreneur Jodi Vernon never intended to become a toy maker. But after her daughter Clarke was born, she struggled to find Black dolls that represented her family in toy shops packed with white-skinned, blue-eyed figures. The last straw came when she went into a second-hand shop in London and…

Mastercard Strive UK: Supporting ethnic minority business owners to thrive

Mastercard’s new programme will help small and micro businesses with digital tools MICRO and small businesses are the engine that drives the UK economy – collectively, they create more than half of the nation’s businesses’ combined revenue and employ more than two in five people. As Britain recovers from the…

Top UK companies making their boards ‘more diverse’

TOP companies of the UK have made progress towards achieving a greater diversity on their boards, according to a global executive search and leadership consulting firm. A study by Spencer Stuart showed that the proportion of first-time board directors from minority ethnic backgrounds rose to 25 per cent in the…

EXCLUSIVE: Alarm as Asians shun booster jabs

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…

EXCLUSIVE: BBC radio unlikely to hit leadership targets

“Systemic and cultural barriers” stop progress of people of colour finds new report Senior BBC leaders in radio news have warned that the corporation will never hit the director-general’s 20 per cent target for people of colour to climb to the top their profession. Nina Robinson, an experienced former BBC…

EXCLUSIVE: Hamilton leads charge for a more diverse F1

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…

Ethnic minority lawyers ‘less likely to become judges’

LAWYERS from ethnic minority groups are less likely to progress from bar to bench than their white counterparts, a new report of the UK’s ministry of justice said. It found that ethnic minority applicants “do less well than white candidates for the majority of selection tools”. They “did less well…

UK police chiefs to admit forces are institutionally racist

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…

NHS observatory to study impact of long Covid in minorities

THE NHS race and health observatory started a three-year study to investigate the long-term impact of Covid on NHS workers across the UK from ethnic backgrounds.  The new 'Reach-Out’ research will be led by the University of Leicester in collaboration with UCL, University of Nottingham, national stakeholders and front-line healthcare…

BBC bans BAME as report reveals term “not fit for…

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,…

New health inequalities report urges to do survival analysis among…

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…

Britain can learn from the US about ethnic talent in…

THE news of Parag Agrawal’s appointment as CEO of Twitter last week, adding to the growing roster of Indian leaders at the helm of major US companies, has swelled the pride of the global Indian diaspora. There are now eight Indian-origin CEOs heading Fortune 500 companies, including Microsoft, Alphabet (Google’s…

How Mastercard’s Strive UK can support small business owners from…

New programme will help business owners with digital tools RESTRICTIONS around the pandemic last year hit many businesses and Nirali Buch Mankodi was no exception. This co-founder of Superfoodio, which uses natural and plant-based ingredients for their chocolate and peanut butter products, had to look for alternative ways to reach…

Racism was used as a shield for deviant medical practice,…

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…

NHS-backed research urges to scrap the term “BAME”

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…

Akram Khan interview: It saddens me that Asians do not…

By Rithika Siddhartha ACCLAIMED dancer Akram Khan has revealed his sadness that Asians shun his work as he prepares to perform his solo, Xenos, about soldiers from the subcontinent who fought for the British Army in the First World War. Khan also said it was only as recently as 2018…

EXCLUSIVE: “Widen race health disparities investigation”

Praise for Sajid Javid’s inquiry, but more action needed say doctors Doctors’ leaders and hospital chiefs want ministers to widen their investigation into health disparities among south Asian and black communities. The leader of the British Medical Association (BMA) and a senior health authority boss have told Eastern Eye that…

Asian traders seek supply chain support as import costs rise

'Businesses in wholesale and retail sectors more vulnerable to crisis' ASIAN entrepreneurs hit hard by the UK’s supply chain crisis have appealed for more help from the government. Firms selling clothes and food items from south Asia have revealed the problems they have had with deliveries as well as with…

UK to probe ‘racial bias’ in medical devices

BRITAIN'S health secretary announced on Sunday (21) that he has launched an independent review to examine if "systematic bias" exists in the development of medical devices after Covid-19 brought the issue "to the fore". Sajid Javid said he would also work with his counterpart in the United States, Xavier Becerra,…

Rafiq implicates David Lloyd, Alex Hales and Gary Ballance in…

IN an emotional apperance before the parliamentary select committee on Tuesday, former player Azeem Rafiq gave more details to the racism scandal at Yorkshire. Explaining to the MPs, he broke down into tears as he explained in details of the racism that he experienced at the club. A report had…

Chief constable backs ‘positive discrimination’ to make force more diverse

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.…

Ofcom study of Asian viewers ‘does not reveal true picture’

Diaspora watch ethnic content but UK channels 'do not cater to diverse audiences' entertainment ETHNIC MINORITY viewers in the UK have said watching Asian channels helps them keep in touch with their culture, according to a survey for Ofcom, but the regulator was criticised for not acknowledging that British TV…

English cricket racism row pains Yorkshire’s Asians

A hilly landscape dotted with serried terraced housing, mill chimneys, church spires and mosque minarets reflects the industrial past and multicultural present of Bradford. But a racism row at local county cricket team Yorkshire has shattered trust between the club and its diverse fanbase in the northern English city. Yorkshire…

EXCLUSIVE: Asian MP demands ECB investigates all racist counties

Cricket’s governing body, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), must immediately investigate racism at all levels of the sport. That is the demand from Bradford West MP, Naz Shah. Speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye, Shah said that the game was institutionally, structurally and systemically racist, and the problem went…

Barristers from minority backgrounds face systemic obstacles in career, report…

A new report has revealed that Barristers from ethnic minority backgrounds in England and Wales face systemic obstacles to building and progressing a sustainable and rewarding career, The Guardian reported. The race working group of the Bar Council, the profession’s representative body, has found out that barristers from minority backgrounds,…

Diaspora delight as Modi meets Indians in Glasgow

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (1) interacted with members of the diaspora in Scotland who gathered in Glasgow to honour him and also unveil a bust of him. Modi, who arrived in the Scottish city last Sunday (31) night to cheers from a group of diaspora delegates, met…

Warrington Borough Council gets first female BAME officer

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…

Sajid Javid: How AI can help provide better health outcomes…

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…

Patel admits she felt ‘uncomfortable’ to lead Home Office because…

HOME secretary Priti Patel on Wednesday (27) admitted that she did not feel comfortable when she arrived to lead the Home Office as an ethnic minority woman, The Daily Mail said. Patel told peers she experienced 'push-back' from officials when she was appointed two years ago. "I'm an ethnic minority…

‘We didn’t sign up to be killed’

AN ASIAN MP has spoken of her safety fears, saying, “we didn’t sign up to have our children burying our bodies”, as police and security authorities review security for parliamentarians following the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess last week. Eastern Eye spoke to Asian and black MPs who revealed…

Javid: UK to use AI to tackle racial inequalities in…

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…

Racial bias in doctors’ recruitment across London, BMJ survey shows

WHITE doctors are six times more likely than black applicants to be successful when applying for posts in London, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) said on Wednesday (13). Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showed white doctors were also four times more likely to be get a job…

Asian hillwalking group featured in BBC documentary

AN Asian hillwalking group which encourages people from ethnic minority backgrounds to explore nature has been featured in a new BBC documentary. Boots & Beards is the focus of an episode in the Our Lives series, which aired earlier this month on BBC One. Founded by Glasgow-based cousins Naveed Baksh…

Experts warn of Asian mental health crisis

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…

New vaccination centre opens at Jalaram community centre with Patels…

PATELS CHEMIST, part of the Morningside Pharmacy group, has started a high-volume NHS Covid-19 vaccination facility at the Jalaram Community Centre in Leicester. The new vaccination site opened on Tuesday (12), having an administering capacity of up to 3,000 vaccinations a week, will serve the local community in Leicester, especially…

Tory MP confuses two ethnic minority ministers at event

A Tory MP has been asked to step back from his work at a charity, after reports suggest that he mixed up two ethnic minority ministers at an event, saying "they all look the same to me". According to MailOnline, James Gray confused then vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi with health…

Leonardo’s diversity push helps ethnic minority employees achieve career goals

ETHNIC minority employees at Leonardo, an aerospace engineering company which employs more than 7,500 people across the UK, said the company's commitment to diversity has helped them grow and achieve their career goals. Hania Mohiuddin, who started as a systems engineer, is currently part of Leonardo's most transformational project, Tempest.…

‘Why are we still using the black, Asian minority ethnics…

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 to put focus on BAME history in…

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…

EXCLUSIVE: “Please get vaccinated,” says Javid

Figures reveal four in 10 British-Pakistanis still unprotected The health secretary, Sajid Javid, has told Eastern Eye that he is “very concerned” that three in 10 south Asians remained unprotected against Covid. During a meeting of specially invited non-white press and broadcasters, Javid revealed that among British-Pakistanis the take up…

Our White Skoda Octavia: Play explores dreams and struggles of…

A WRITER has said his new play following an Asian family impacted by the 2007 financial crisis is an opportunity to show ethnic minority communities have the same aspirations as anyone else. Touring this autumn, Our White Skoda Octavia follows the lives of the Afridis, a British-Pakistani family living in…

BAME finance workers in UK face workplace discrimination, survey finds

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.…

Asian victims are ‘being failed’

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…

Tough to set framework for ethnicity pay gap reporting: Government

BUSINESS department under-secretary Paul Scully said the government was “committed to taking action on ethnicity pay reporting”. However, the Conservative MP said establishing a standard ethnicity pay reporting framework would be more challenging than in the case of gender pay gap disclosure. “But we want to ensure we are doing…

Self-harm rises among young people from ethnic minorities, says study

SELF-HARM may be increasing more quickly among young people from ethnic minorities, a study has suggested. According to data on hospital emergency department presentations, there was a higher average annual increase among south Asian and black young people and those from other non-white ethnic groups compared to white young people.…

Jagmeet Singh may turn kingmaker in Canada

CANADIANS returned Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau to power in hotly contested elections against a rookie conservative leader, but he failed to gain an absolute majority, according to preliminary results early on Tuesday (21). Trudeau called the snap polls last month, hoping to parlay a smooth Covid-19 vaccine rollout -…

Former employee accuses equality watchdog of ‘racial gaslighting’

BRITAIN'S equality watchdog has failed to support the human rights of ethnic minorities and have colluded in denial of structural and institutional racism, one of its former employee has accused. According to reports, in an email to colleagues before leaving the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the employee accused…

Pay gap widens as calls for mandatory data disclosure grow

A PROFESSIONAL body has reported a rise in the ethnicity pay gap, even as calls are growing for making wage disparity data mandatory for employers. The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) said the mean pay gap between white British workers and ethnic minority groups went up to 24.9 per cent…

Priya Gopaldas: How to break barriers and smash stereotypes

TRAINEE DOCTOR DISCUSSES HER LOVE ISLAND JOURNEY, DATING AND FUTURE PLANS THE recently concluded series of Love Island will be remembered by many for the whirlwind entrance of Priya Gopaldas. The trainee doctor tore up the rulebooks usually associated with the massively popular reality TV show and became one of…

Only 13 major UK companies disclose racial pay disparity

MOST of the top companies in the UK appear reluctant to come out with ethnicity pay reporting, going by the sluggishness in their disclosures. Just 13 of the 100 companies featured in the benchmark FTSE100 index have revealed racial pay disparities, The Guardian reported ahead of Monday’s (20) parliamentary debate…

‘Organisations must do more to attract ethnic leaders’

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…

One in three BAME staff in NHS mental health services…

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…

Fawcett report reveals pay gap for BAME women

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…

Is 9/11 anti-Muslim bias worse?

THE September 11 terrorist attack in the United States was a “landmark moment that dramatically shifted how the British public saw Muslims”, race activists said ahead of the 20th anniversary of the tragedy on Saturday (11). Nearly 3,000 people died in coordinated attacks in the US on September 11, 2001,…

EXCLUSIVE: A “lifetime of opportunity missed”

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…

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge step up efforts to improve…

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.…

Majority of BAME GPs find CQC inspections ‘traumatic’, reveals survey

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…

‘Digital divide hits Asian families’

Broadband suppliers urged to provide flexible tariffs during pandemic ASIAN families are more likely to struggle to pay their broadband bill compared to other groups, a report found. It has led to calls for better flexible tariffs to support hard-pressed families during the Covid pandemic and tackle the “digital divide”.…

‘Ignorance isn’t an excuse’, NHS blog post on racism tells…

A blog post on the NHS Leadership Academy website has provided anti-racism tips, and advised white staff to read about white privilege, The Telegraph reported. The post suggested reading an article on white privilege by the US activist Peggy McIntosh, followed by a discussion of “whiteness” in author Robin DiAngelo’s…

Driffield mural slammed for failing to depict BAME people

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…

Exclusive: Black and Asian police officers denounce new recruitment campaign…

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…

Women, minority surgeons likely to be passed over for promotion,…

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…

Asian and black patients ‘less likely to have successful kidney…

BLACK and Asian people are less likely to have a successful kidney transplant when compared to their white peers, a study has found. The study was carried out by the doctors at St James's University Hospital in Leeds where 20,000 kidney transplants were analysed. The ethnicity of both the donor…

Medics hailed for using social media to offer health advice

TOP doctors and pharmacists have been praised for using quirky TikTok videos in order to pass on vital health advice to Asian communities. The medics have gained large followings on the video-sharing app for posting musical footage about issues including the importance of the Covid-19 vaccine, sleep tips and diet…

#PositiveTwitterDay – a day to think before you tweet

August 27 is #PositiveTwitterDay - an annual, civic initiative to promote greater civility on social media. Moreover, it comes at an opportune moment, against the recent backdrop of racist abuses on Twitter and other platforms, directed most prominently at England’s black footballers. Positive Twitter Day asks Twitter users to leave…

How to disagree on Positive Twitter Day

THE potential of social media to spread toxicity has been back in the headlines this year, so how can we get the social media culture that we want? On Friday (27), Positive Twitter Day offers one small opportunity for all of us on social platforms to do something about that…

Record participation from ethnic minority students for CyberFirst summer courses

PUPILS from ethnic minority backgrounds have secured nearly half (47 per cent) of places in the CyberFirst summer courses led by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a statement said. The intake of girls was 43 per cent this year. A total of 1,866 teenagers aged 14-17 took part in the…

Hetain Patel: Artist’s film trilogy seeks to ‘occupy mainstream space’

A TRILOGY of films depicting ethnic minority protagonists in Hollywood blockbuster movies that “they are typically excluded from” is part of a new exhibition in Southampton. Hetain Patel’s new art show Trinity is based on his fascination with the cultural influence that Hollywood has on people’s lives. Having premiered at…

Council joins and supports Root Out Racism movement

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…

Revealed: The inside story behind the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine

VAXXERS: The Inside Story of the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine and the Race Against the Virus is a truly wonderful book about the design and development of the life-saving vaccine by two women who write their respective chapters as “Sarah” and “Cath”. This is a must-read book for the British Asian…

Editor’s Comment: Discussing diabetes

NEW research has warned of a worrying increase in the number of young people who have type 2 diabetes in the UK. Analysis by NHS Digital showed an estimated some 1,560 people aged 18 or under have the condition. The disease is known to be more severe in young people.…

‘Ethnic minority kidney transplant patients waiting for organs’

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…

‘Too few south Asian faces in TV adverts’

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…

EXCLUSIVE: Investigate GMC rulings against Asian doctors

“Colonial attitudes” leading to “disciplinary dice loaded against minority medics” The chair of the British Medical Association is demanding an independent investigation into the way south Asian and black doctors are being disciplined. Freedom of information figures obtained by Eastern Eye reveal that over the past 10 years, the General…

‘Young Asians must minimise risk factors related to diabetes’

YOUNG people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to be of Asian origin, new data revealed last Thursday (12). According to NHS Digital analysis, 122,780 children and young adults under the age of 40 are living with the disease in the UK. The condition affects 1,560 people aged 18…

Trade body calls for action over higher rate of unemployment…

Trade Union Congress today (17) has called on ministers to take decisive actions over the “discrimination that holds ethnic workers back” after it emerged from the latest data released by Office for National Statistics (ONS) that the unemployment rate for ethnic minority workers has risen three times the rate for…

West Yorkshire to publish ethnicity pay report to tackle disparity,…

WEST YORKSHIRE Combined Authority will publish an ethnicity pay report for the first time, the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin announced on Friday (13) after recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlighted how most of the minority ethnic groups in Britain continue to earn less than…

Blackburn teacher creates most henna art world record

A teacher has made a new Guinness World Record for completing the most ever henna tattoo armbands in just an hour.   Samina Hussain, from Blackburn in Lancashire, finished 600 armband-style inkings in just 52 minutes. The previous record was held by another London henna artist for making 511 inkings…

‘I want people to see mosques as places of love…

Why Ed Husain hopes his new book will help readers understand muslims better AN AUTHOR who visited mosques across Britain for his new book has revealed his concerns for the future of Islam in this country and cautioned against the drawbacks of identity based solely on faith. Ed Husain also…

London state school students secure more Oxbridge seats than Eton

AN east London state school on Tuesday (10) outperformed Eton in securing Oxbridge offer as 55 of its pupils, seven more than Eton's 48, scored A-level grades that are needed to study at UK’s top two universities, stated media reports.   Brampton Manor Academy is a state school in the…

Employee who flagged institutional racism at HSBC resigns

AN employee who wrote a report alleging institutional racism inside HSBC has resigned. He cited frustration at the firm's response to some of his criticism and a lack of support from white colleagues, two internal emails have revealed. Ian Clarke, who was a salesman in the US Global Liquidity and…

UK’s health service to measure race discrimination within primary care

ENGLAND's National Health Service (NHS) is set to measure race equality within the GP workforce, claimed a media report on Wednesday (4), after its recent report’s findings that pointed out rampant racism and bias against ethnic minority medics exist in the system at various levels from career progression and pay…

Why the UK police force fails to improve diversity

THERE is a popular saying that madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result to materialise. The police in Britain have failed to reflect the diversity of the community they serve and have failed on Sir Robert Peel’s founding description of policing, which was,…

‘Ethnic minority saw more Covid deaths, 14 postcodes saw zero…

SOME ethnic minority groups in England saw higher Covid death rates than the rest of the population, a recent report by Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday (3), which also highlighted that just 13 areas in England and one in Wales out of 7,201 total neighbourhoods have seen…

Dr Kailash Chand: A selfless life of service

IT WAS with a heavy heart that Eastern Eye reported the death last Monday (26) of Dr Kailash Chand, a friend and supporter of this newspaper for many years. This week, some of those who knew Dr Chand have paid tribute to him in a special memorial feature. Dr Chaand…

Skewed sex ratio may lead to 5 million girls missing…

COUNTRIES with skewed sex ratios such as India could mean the world is set to “lose” 4.7 million girls by 2030, experts have warned. The study, published in the BMJ Global Health journal, suggested the figure could reach 22 million by 2100. Researchers predicted the sex ratio at birth (SRB)…

UK pension funds warn asset managers to make workforce more…

A GROUP of UK pension funds and investment consultants, that collectively oversee more than £ one trillion in assets, have warned asset managers to tackle the lack of diversity in their workforce or risk losing clients, reports said on Sunday (1). The group, under a new charter, is demanding its…

Short docu-series, also featuring Amir Khan, showcases ethnic minority boxers…

A research project, led by De Montfort University (DMU) academics analysing the involvement of immigrants and minority groups in British boxing, has been turned into a mini documentary series, one of which features boxer Amir Khan.   David Dee, associate professor in modern history, is undertaking a research focusing on…

Oximeters less accurate for people from Asian and minority ethnic…

OXIMETERS can overestimate the amount of oxygen in black and minority ethnic people, NHS England and NHS Race and Health Observatory said on Sunday (1).    Official NHS guidance has been changed for the use of blood oxygen monitors after it was found that they may not be as accurate…

Johnson in trouble over introducing Covid vaccine passport ‘by stealth’

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has been accused of bringing in Covid vaccine passport “by stealth”, due to which he might be facing a hard time ahead, including a mini-rebellion from more than 50 Tory MPs, claimed media reports on Friday (30), adding that Liberal Democrats have called for scrapping…

MPs condemn inaction over ‘institutional racism’ in UK police

"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…

Santander to link bankers’ bonus to team diversity

IN A BID to improve diversity in its employee pool, Santander Group will introduce a plan next year linking bankers’ bonus to diversity targets, the Telegraph reported. The move is seen as the finance industry’s attempt to shake off its image of white male dominance. Bruce Carnegie-Brown, Santander’s vice chairman,…

New report finds racial disparity in take up of apprenticeships

ETHNIC minority people are far less likely than white people to have done an apprenticeship, a new report has found. But it added the lower participation in apprenticeships is not due to lack of interest. In the BTEG 2021 Survey of Ethnic Minority Young People, 75 per cent considered that…

UK financial watchdog set to improve diversity in boardrooms

BRITAIN's financial watchdog has proposed changes in the rules for companies listed on the U.K. stock market to include a “comply or explain” requirement for meeting diversity targets, media reports said, demanding at least one director from an ethnic minority background by 2021.        Putting forward its proposal on…

Acknowledge your ‘unearned white privilege’, NHS to medics

DOCTORS and nurses in England’s National Health Service (NHS) are being trained on aspects of structural racism and white privilege, a recent media report claimed.   Medics in Northern Care Alliance, which covers two trusts and nearly 20,000 staff, have recently been offered guidance on “white privilege, structural racism and…

STEM sector’s lack of diversity ‘will hold Britain back

LAST week, I was delighted to hear about Dr Hayaatun Sillem, chief executive officer of the Royal Academy of Engineering, receiving her CBE from the Prince of  Wales for services to international engineering. This recognition is a moment to celebrate in our community and across the science, technology, engineering, and…

Power List salute to Covid heroes

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…

‘People from ethnic minority doubles in top public roles in…

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…

New £48m-backed strategy to smoothen adoption process, benefit ethnic minorities

FAMILIES across England looking to adopt will receive better support as the government on Monday (26) launched a national strategy to reduce the waiting time as well as encourage the adoption of children in need, older children and those from ethnic minority groups.   Under the new plans, no one…

HIV testing opt-out scheme should be implemented, report recommends

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…

Bank of England governor Bailey pledges to ‘improve diversity’

THE Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey promised to put more efforts to tackle systemic racial inequality after a review discovered the 327-year-old institution fell short of promoting diversity. In an article written for the Guardian after the release of a report by the Bank’s governing court, Bailey agreed that…

‘Diversity all time high in UK’s health services, so is…

DIVERSITY in UK’s National Health Services (NHS) is at an all-time high with the presence of a record-breaking number of ethnic minority staff, says a recent report, which adds that discrimination and racism continue to prevail in the country’s health services. According to Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard (MWRES) report…

‘Film about NHS racism should be a wake-up call’

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…

Sunflower Sisters: Author highlights colourism in her debut children’s book

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…

Dismay as Church of England finds ‘racial justice expensive’

THE Church of England (C of E) has dismissed a plan to appoint 42 ‘racial justice officers’ (RJOs) after archbishops said they could not afford to create the roles, it was reported last weekend. The proposal for RJOs was a key recommendation in a report, From Lament to Action, which…

‘Racism is systemic in England, UK government breaching UN’s anti-racism…

ENGLAND is "systemically racist" and the UK government is in breach of a United Nations (UN) treaty designed to eradicate racial discrimination, a recent report claimed on Wednesday (14), adding that minority ethnic groups in the country face sustained disparities across health, the criminal justice system, education, employment, immigration and…

Sunder Katwala: This is our England

Southgate’s inclusive England must be defended from hatred This is our England. Disappointed in defeat. Proud to have seen our national team contest a major tournament final. More confident this month about the appeal of an inclusive England – open to everybody who calls England home – than it has…

Criticism over no photo of BAME person in Redcar and…

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…

Campaigners ‘disappointed’ as Church of England drops plan for racial…

THE Church of England has dismissed the plan to appoint 42 'racial justice officers' after archbishops said they could not afford to create the roles, reported The Times. The report added that campaigners, who wanted to tackle racism within the church, have expressed 'shock and disappointment' over the decision. A…

Riding academy to give aspiring ethnic minority jockeys a leg…

Successful female muslim rider backs plan to improve diversity in horse racing HORSE RACING is jockeying to get more ethnic minorities into the sport with the launch of a new academy. Khadijah Mellah, the first British Muslim woman to win a race, has backed the scheme to encourage young people…

Editor’s comment: Workplace equality

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,…

Asians urged to join a union for ‘fair and equal…

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,…

Three Lions’ dream run at Euro 2020 starts #EnglandTogether campaign

AHEAD of England's Euro 2020 semifinal clash against Denmark on Wednesday (7), a new campaign, #EnglandTogether, is calling on fans to show their support for the team and also back the idea for an inclusive England that is shared by people of all backgrounds. Supporters from faith, diversity and cohesion…

Batley ‘warning’ for Labour

LABOUR has been urged to engage with Asian communities and “treat them as individuals”, as polls suggest its popularity with Muslim voters is dwindling. The call comes after the party’s victory in the Batley and Spen by-election last week, with candidate Kim Leadbeater, the younger sister of Jo Cox, who…

Dearing says young black swimmers should not be put off…

ALICE DEARING has urged young black swimmers not to get discouraged from taking part in competitions following a decision to ban specialist swim caps designed to protect natural black hair from being worn at the Olympics. Dearing, 24, confirmed her place in Team GB last week and will participate in…

British Medical Association urges Javid to tackle ‘structural racism’ in…

British Medical Association on Thursday (1) has urged England’s newly-appointed health secretary Sajid Javid to tackle racism within the healthcare sector, claiming that the government commission report had “ignored well-documented” evidence of structural racism in NHS and failed to give a true picture of the barriers faced by ethnic minority health…

‘Just five per cent of school governors from ethnic minority…

ONLY FIVE per cent of state school governors in England are from ethnic minority backgrounds, says a new report, adding that the figure has remained unchanged for the last 20 years.   Statistics from the National Governance Association (NGA) showed that only three per cent of school governors are Asian.…

Bias ‘not the only reason’ for workplace inequality, says expert

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…

Teaching children the history of Britain’s ethnic groups ‘will foster…

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 face lower level of employment than whites…

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 more likely to be impacted by Covid-19’

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…

Editor’s Comment: Racist treatment

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,…

Row over One Britain song deepens as Whitehall blasts Twitter…

THE ROW over a "patriotic One Britain" song has deepened with a Whitehall source calling Twitter trolls “despicable” for criticising retired police officer Kash Singh for “trying to do good”, a media report said. Singh is behind the One Britain, One Nation (OBON) campaign supported by the Department of Education,…

‘Give patients data choice’

Informed consent is vital when collecting medical records, says expert ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2021, NHS Digital will collect General Practice data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) in England. According to the NHS Digital website, the data will be used to “support a wide variety of research and analysis to help…

Why ‘coconut’ slurs can break race hate laws

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 pledges to ‘do more’ as data shows low…

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…

‘Over-45 BAME women employed in public sector are most disadvantaged’

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…

EXCLUSIVE: White patients refuse care from Asian doctors

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.…

Barnardo’s teams up with UK rappers to highlight Covid-19 mental…

ON the occasion of World Music Day, Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, has teamed up with several leading UK rappers and poets to raise awareness of its Boloh helpline - a Covid-19 helpline service specifically for black, Asian and ethnic minority young people and their families. The artists will…

Students suffering racial trauma can defer exams, says Goldsmiths

A university has said that black and ethnic minority students will be allowed to defer essay deadlines and exams if they suffer from racial trauma. The Telegraph reported that from the next academic year - Goldsmiths, University of London have said it will introduce this new category for extenuating circumstances.…

‘Racial bias infecting General Medical Council’

RACIAL discrimination is “infecting” the General Medical Council (GMC), a tribunal said on Friday (18), as it pointed out the disproportionate number of complaints about ethnic minority doctors as compared with their white colleagues. The tribunal’s comments came as it backed complaints made against the GMC by Omar Karim, 62,…

Nikesh Shukla: The Empire strikes back

By Amit Roy IT WAS brave of the author Nikesh Shukla to turn down the offer of an MBE, braver still to let everyone know he had refused it because it stands for ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’. His action might had more of an impact, though,…

‘Institutional abuse’ of BAME communities lead to mistrust of authorities…

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…

Myanmar’s anti-junta movement shows viral support for Rohingya in Bangladesh

THE activists and civilians in Myanmar flooded social media on Sunday (13) to show their support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Anti-junta protesters posted pictures of themselves wearing black on Sunday in a show of solidarity with the Rohingya, a minority group that is among the most persecuted in the country.…

‘Many stop-and-search scrutiny panels have few or no BAME members’

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…

REVEALED: “WHISTLE BLOWER” JUDGE JOINS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Following an Eastern Eye campaign, we reveal latest on “secret” whistleblowing plan Exclusive A JUDGE who won a seven-year legal battle to allow her reveal experience of bullying and racism in the judiciary has been “invited” to join a committee drawing up a whistle blowing policy. This week (9), Eastern…

England football team unites the nation more than other English…

AS a symbol of England, the multi-ethnic football team of Marcus Rashford and Gareth Southgate unites people of all ethnic backgrounds, says a new research published on Thursday (10) ahead of the European championship. However, it says other symbols like the England flag or a St George’s Day party still…

UK women’s health: BAME women urged to respond as deadline…

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…

REVEALED: Judiciary’s “secret plan” to scare judges

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…

Romesh Ranganathan dedicates BAFTA award to mom

  ASIAN comedian Romesh Ranganathan revealed he will be giving his newly-acquired BAFTA trophy to his mother and quipped, “not that she’s earned it.” After winning the best entertainment performance at BAFTA awards on Sunday (6) for his comedy show “The Ranganation,” the 43-year-old joked he would give the award…

‘Vaccine confidence more than tripled in minority ethnic after NHS…

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…

Lack of diverse curriculum ‘hampers’ progress of BAME students, study…

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…

‘Buckingham Palace banned ethnic minorities from jobs until late 1960s’

“COLOURED immigrants or foreigners” were not allowed to work as anything other than domestic servants at Buckingham Palace until the late 1960s, the National Archives documents have revealed. According to the documents, the Queen’s chief financial manager had informed civil servants in 1968 that “it was not, in fact, the…

REVEALED: Judges “secret” whistle blowing policy

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…

Hancock gives in over discriminatory ‘Healthy Start’ scheme for poor…

AN ethnic minority family has won a legal battle concerning the 'Healthy Start' scheme that provides vitamins, milk and vegetables to poorest children in England and Wales. Health secretary Matt Hancock had to give in after the lawyers for the family challenged the policy as discriminatory, when they were denied…

Patel ‘rejects Met chief’s positive discrimination plan to hire more…

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…

Tories react to Singh review on party’s ‘Muslim problem’

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…

INVESTIGATION: “Pandemic of child abuse”…in south Asian communities

Exclusive The government, police and councils are failing thousands of south Asian children, some just a few months old, who have been sexually abused, an eleven month Eastern Eye investigation has uncovered. Using freedom of information requests, we asked 50 councils and 13 police forces how they collate figures for…

Eviction ban lift: ‘Low-income BAME renters more likely to be…

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…

Ethnic minority doctors ‘feel unwelcome’ in Wales, says senior doctor

  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,…

Regulators urge healthcare leaders to develop ‘inclusive policies and processes’…

THE NHS Race and Health Observatory, supported by three regulators, on Friday (28) urged healthcare leaders to ensure that policies and processes are fair, inclusive and in line with the 2010 Equality Act. The Observatory along with Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council, and the Care Quality Commission have…

Asians more likely to be affected by housing crisis than…

by LAUREN CODLING  ASIANS are 50 per cent more likely to be affected by the housing emergency than white people, new research on Wednesday (26) revealed. Approximately 1.8 million Asian adults (48 per cent) do not have a safe or secure home, compared with 33 per of white adults in the UK, according to housing…

High cost of Diana scoop

  By Amit Roy IF THERE is one lesson that British Asian journalists can learn from the Martin Bashir affair, it is that non-white reporters – like ethnic minority doctors – will be held to the most ex­acting standards. It was madness, possibly even a crimi­nal offence, on Bashir’s part…

UK equalities chief says ‘immigrant optimism’ and ‘religious upbringing’ can…

AN equalities chief in UK has said that “immigrant optimism” can help ethnic minority pupils to outperform their white peers. Dr Tony Sewell, chair of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, added that having a religious upbringing can also help children develop a sense of discipline, reported The Telegraph.…

Complimenting foreign student’s English is a microaggression: UK universities’ new…

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.…

‘Covid passport system may deny jobs and services to minorities’

  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,…

‘Polls showed importance of geography and identity in politics’

  By Sunder Katwala ‘CARRY on governing’ seemed to be the key message of the ‘Super Thursday’ elections across the UK last week. That this did not seem a ‘time for a change’ was the common thread linking the renewed mandate to govern of Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP)…

UK will introduce voter ID law this year

UK government will introduce a new law this year to crack down on voter fraud and introduce rules that would require voters to prove their identities. However, critics say this move would deter people from casting ballots. Currently, voters need to only give their name and address to be able…

Ethnic minorities elected to Scottish Parliament

The 2021 Scottish Parliament election has witnessed the victory of some ethnic minorities, elected as the Member of Scottish Parliament. Read about them below: FOYSOL CHOUDHURY: First Bangladeshi origin to mark presence in Scottish Parliament Scottish Labour’s Foysol Choudhury becomes the first ethnic minority MSP in the Lothians. He is a…

Street unveils plan to revive West Midlands’ economy

MAYOR, WHO IS SEEKING RE-ELECTION, SAYS 100,000 JOBS WILL BE CREATED FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY AND LAUNCH OF ‘CURRY COLLEGE’ TO TRAIN CHEFS WEST MIDLANDS mayor Andy Street revealed the loss of his mother to Covid-19 has given him a personal understanding of the pandemic’s devastating impact on society. In an…

Anas Sarwar: ‘The fight for equality is not over’

by LAUREN CODLING SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar has revealed that racist abuse targeting him has increased since he was elected head of his party, but said he no longer pays attention to it. In an exclusive interview on Monday (26) with Eastern Eye, the Asian politician also said that…

Royal Academy displays the art of being inclusive

  By Amit Roy THE Royal Academy (RA), one of Britain’s premier arts institutions, is ushering in diversity in a major way by choosing an ethnic minority “coordinator” for its famed Summer Exhibition. It has taken the RA 252 years to get there, but Yinka Shonibare, a distinguished Brit­ish artist…

Ethnic minority survivors of child sexual abuse lack trust in…

A NEW report published on Thursday (29) revealed that victims and survivors of child sexual abuse from ethnic minority communities do not trust the police or social care. The report titled 'Engagement with support services from ethnic minority communities' by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse further stated that…

Fear over racial and physical abuse keep ethnically diverse fans…

A NEW survey has revealed that people from ethnic minority backgrounds are hesitant to attend live sporting events because of fear over racial and physical abuse. As many as 41 per cent of ethnically diverse fans, who responded to the survey, shared this opinion and 42 per cent of respondents…

Oxford fellowship to support BAME entrepreneurs to reach leadership positions

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…

St George’s Day not celebrated equally, poll finds

FEWER than half of ethnic minorities feel St George’s Day celebrations bring people equally together, new research revealed today (23). Only 39 per cent of ethnic minority respondents agreed a St George’s Day party belonged equally to people of every race and ethnic background today, analysis by integration thinktank British Future said.…

Church of England must act “urgently” on racial inequality, report…

A TASKFORCE commissioned by the archbishops of Canterbury and York has cautioned the Church of England that failing to implement change to achieve greater racial justice and equality could be the “last straw” for many clergy and ethnic minority worshippers. Published on Thursday (22), the From Lament to Action report…

Pandemic has led to surge in stress levels for doctors’

  By Nadeem Badshah BRITISH Asian doctors have re­vealed the impact the Covid cri­sis has had on their stress levels and how the support of their family has helped them cope. They have disclosed how their workload and patient numbers have increased since the pan­demic began and how they are…

Vaccine uptake among all ethnic minorities tripled in the UK,…

VACCINE uptake from all ethnic minority backgrounds has tripled in the UK, outpacing the national average across all ethnicities, a top official has said. "Two months ago, on behalf of the NHS, I set out our action plan to boost uptake across people from ethnic minority backgrounds. And I’m pleased…

Church of England bans non-disclosure agreements following allegations that it…

THE Church of England on Tuesday (20) banned non-disclosure agreements after the Archbishop of Canterbury said that they must no longer be used to silence abuse victims. Justin Welby told Times Radio that he was 'horrified' to learn of racist abuse aimed at priests and staff within the church, as exposed in…

Trade union leaders urge Johnson to reject ‘insulting’ UK race…

TRADE UNION leaders representing five million workers in the UK have urged  the government to reject the 'insulting' report published by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. In a letter to the prime minister, 33 trade union general secretaries urged to 'pick a different path', noting that 'there is…

Lloyds Bank foundation launches racial equity funding for charities supporting…

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…

Taking Covid jabs ‘does not break Ramadan fast’

by LAUREN CODLING MUSLIMS have been encouraged to attend vaccination appointments during Ramadan as community leaders raised concerns that some may delay their jabs due to fears it may break their fast. Throughout Ramadan, which began on Tuesday (13), Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. However, some have…

Many organisations and individuals credited in UK race review now…

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…

Minorities to have a say on future Church of England…

IN order to improve diversity and to have a say on future of Church of England bishops should be approved from black and minority groups, it has been recommended. The reforms will give a black or ethnic minority churchgoer a veto over appointments to senior posts. The move to bring…

Racial discrimination could drive vaccine hesitancy, says study

RACIAL discrimination is twice as high in public sevices among ethnic minorities and could also be driving vaccine hesitancy in the group, a report has found. The findings showed disparities in the impact of Covid-19 and the research done by Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) could help…

NHS Observatory urges Muslim community to use new rapid testing…

THE NHS Race and Health Observatory has urged the Muslim community to use new rapid testing kits during Ramadan to help detect further cases of Covid-19. The Observatory and the Muslim Doctors Association have distributed a new infographic resource to NHS vaccination centres, mosques, religious and community groups, that provides…

Kakkar conundrum

By Amit Roy VARIOUS newspapers have argued that last week’s report from the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities had to be fair because the com­missioners were, with one exception, members of ethnic minority com­munities themselves. One of them was Lord Ajay Kakkar, 56, who was elevated to the peerage…

Ending racial bias ‘needs less talk and more action’

  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…

UK needs to do more to tackle racism, Johnson says,…

BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson said a race inequality review commissioned by his government was stimulating but more needed to be done to tackle the issue, as some campaigners accused the report of “gaslighting” the experiences of minorities. The report on Wednesday (31) by the Commission on Race and Ethnic…

Johnson’s ethnic minority adviser Samuel Kasumu steps down

SAMUEL KASUMU, prime minister Boris Johnson's senior adviser on ethnic minorities will leave the role next month. He had previously resigned in February, before retracting his decision. His departure from the role comes a day after the publication of a government-backed report on race equality in the country. However, Downing…

‘I want to make London a better, more equal city’

  By Sadiq Khan Mayor of London IT HAS been a truly terrible year. The pandemic has affected us all – the grief of losing loved ones, the devastating impact on businesses and jobs, and the emotional strain of being unable to meet our close friends and family. The thing…

Critics accuse government of a “total whitewash” following race report

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…

No proof of institutional racism in UK, claims government report

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…

Majority of ethnic minority people in Britain believe the royal…

A NEW survey has revealed that a majority of ethnic minority Britons believe the royal family is racist and many don't want the monarchy to continue. A YouGov survey has found out that 43 per cent of non-white voters believe the royal family holds racist views, whilst 27 believed they…

I will continue to celebrate London’s diversity

By Sadiq Khan IT has been a truly terrible year. The pandemic has affected us all – the grief of losing loved ones, the devastating impact on businesses and jobs, and the emotional strain of being unable to meet up with our close friends and family. The thing I’ve missed…

What is BAME? Most Brits unknown to the term, says…

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…

Experts urge review of suitable pulse oximetry products for BME…

THE independent NHS Race and Health Observatory has called for an urgent review of suitable pulse oximetry products for ethnic minority people in England including those products used in medical settings. The accuracy of Pulse Oximeter readings from black and minority ethnic (BME) people could be seriously misleading, particularly during…

Annual ethnicity pay reporting may become mandatory for larger UK…

THE Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, set up by Boris Johnson last summer, has been examining disparities in the employment market and is expected to report its findings to No 10 by the end of this month, reported The Guardian. The commission is expected to urge the government to…

Football commentary box lacks diversity, only two are BAME in…

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…

New report reveals poor female and minority representation in British…

A NEW report has identified poor female and minority representation among the leadership of retailers in the UK. The report by British Retail Consortium, PWC and MBS Group report has urged more than 55 retailers to pledge to improve diversity and inclusion practices, reported The Times.  An analysis of more than…

Ethnic minority patients undergoing fertility treatment are less likely to…

A NEW report published on Tuesday (23) revealed that people from ethnic minority backgrounds undergoing fertility treatment are less likely to have a baby, with black patients having the lowest chances of successful treatment. The new report ‘Ethnic diversity in fertility treatment’ also said that 31 per cent of black…

Surgeons from minority backgrounds face racism and sexism, says review

A landmark review has found 'terrible' examples of sexism, racism, and homophobia meted out to surgeons throughout their careers. The review by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC do not cast surgeons or the the Royal College of Surgeons in a progressive, modern or particularly attractive light, reported The Telegraph. Baroness Kennedy…

Report urges probation services to focus more on racial equality

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…

East Ham school aces Oxbridge test

  A RECORD number of students from an east London state school have received offers to Oxbridge universities, it was an­nounced earlier this month. A total of 55 pupils from Brampton Manor Academy in East Ham have been sent offers to study at the universities of Ox­ford or Cambridge. More…

Experts urge targeted inoculation of vulnerable ethnic minority groups in…

EXPERTS have urged the UK government to reconsider its coronavirus vaccine allocation strategy, and called for a targeted inoculation of vulnerable ethnic minority groups. A commentary published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (JRSM), a group of experts has warned that the UK’s 'colour-blind' approach puts ethnic…

Ethnic diversity in Britain’s top 100 companies improves, Parker Review…

A NEW survey revealed that Britain's top 100 companies have made significant progress on improving the ethnic diversity of their boards despite the pandemic affecting recruitment processes. The survey of FTSE 100 companies by the Parker Review committee, published on Friday (12), found out that 74 of top 100 companies…

Bullying, racial abuse rampant at Sellafield nuclear site, reports BBC

THE BBC has reported that bullying, harassment and racial abuse are rampant at Sellafield nuclear site which could allow serious safety concerns go unreported. A letter sent in September 2020 by Sellafield's network of ethnic minority staff to the firm's board, has mentioned a series of 27 racist incidents, the…

‘Maternal care racism inquiry is important and long overdue’

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,…

‘No hint of racism’ in Prince Charles

  By Amit Roy FOR various personal reasons, I have known Prince Charles for a very long time – and there is one thing I can say with absolute confidence. There isn’t a hint of racism in him. To be sure, the interview given by Prince Harry and Meghan to…

Ethnic minorities more likely to trust vaccine information from loved…

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…

Research reveals ‘significant’ racial disparities in care of heart patients…

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…

Tony Burnett urges the incoming FA chair and PFA chief…

NEW Kick it Out chief executive Tony Burnett has urged the incoming Football Association chair and players' union chief  to value inclusion as it is 'massively important'. "I'd absolutely love to see a black person or a person from an ethnic minority background in one of those roles because they…

GG2 diversity conference panels debate how to challenge racial prejudice

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…

ACKNOWLDGE NHS ‘STRUCTURAL RACISM’

“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…

Labour calls for a ‘jobs promise’ for youth under 25…

THE Labour Party has called for a ‘jobs promise’ for all those under 25 who have been away from work, education or training for more than six months, including furloughed workers. The plan includes bringing forward funding for existing employment schemes and guarantees a work or training placement for young…

£4.8 million bursary fund launched for university students by UK…

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…

UK to focus on age, not occupation, for next vaccines

BRITAIN's next phase of coronavirus vaccines will be administered based on age rather than occupational risk, an advisory group said, sparking anger from police and teachers who said they should get priority. Speaking at a televised press conference, health secretary Matt Hancock said Britain’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation…

New £4.8m fund launched to help underprivileged university students in…

A new endowment fund of nearly £4.8 million has been launched to improve the access to employability opportunities for underserved, low income and black and minority ethnic (BME) university students in the UK. The fund started by JPMorgan Chase and the Sutton Trust on Thursday(25) plans to help 350 students…

Some minority groups in UK were less badly affected in…

SOME ethnic minority groups in Britain were relatively less badly affected in the second wave of Covid-19 than they were in the first, a government report into the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on minorities said on Friday (26). The quarterly report has previously found that the increased risk to…

Pandemic heroes honoured at GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards

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…

Parents urged to be aware of rare Covid-linked condition in…

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…

Number of female board members in top UK companies up…

THE number of women on the boards of Britain's top 350 listed companies has jumped by 50 per cent in five years, a government-backed study showed. There were 1,026 female board members in January this year, compared with 682 in October 2015, according to a final annual report from the…

Samant stands down

By Amit Roy RASHMI SAMANT found out the hard way last week that those who live by Twitter can die by Twitter – or Instagram or the various forms of social media. Rashmi was elected presi­dent of the Oxford Students’ Union (SU) by a handsome margin – she got 1,966…

‘Studying Covid’s ethnic impact can end inequality’

  By Professor Bridget Byrne ONE of the lessons of the pandemic is that ra­cial discrimination and racial inequality kill. The evidence was al­ready there, but the im­pact of the virus and lockdown has brought the tragic impact of dis­crimination into sharp­er focus, and made it even more urgent to…

Vaccine uptake plans

By Nadhim Zahawi Vaccine deployment minister CORONAVIRUS is forcing us to live more of our lives online and now more than ever people are using social media to connect and share updates, memories and feelings with their loved ones. It’s a fantastic way to keep in touch when we can­not…