Greater Manchester race equality panel, which will tackle racism and discrimination meets for the first time

THE 24-member Greater Manchester race equality panel, which aims to tackle racism and discrimination, has met for the first time last week.

The members were welcomed by mayor Andy Burnham and councillor Brenda Warrington, leader for age friendly Greater Manchester and equalities, at the meeting.

The members include Maqsood Ahmad, Sophia Begum, Kailash Chand OBE, Jay Charara, Priya Chopra, Kush Chottera,

Khadijah Diskin, Sharmila Kar, Parkash Bobby Singh and Dr Maria Zubair.

Mayor Burnham announced a plan to create the panel in 2019 but recruitment was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The panel will provide insight and input to the Independent inequalities commission report into systemic racism in Greater Manchester and will respond, shape the planned race equality policing report from Greater Manchester Police early in 2021.

According to a statement, they were selected for their skills, knowledge, connections into their communities and their willingness to use their own personal experiences to challenge and support public services to tackle systemic inequalities, racism and discrimination.

Mayor Burnham said: “We had a very high quality field of applicants for this panel and the 24 people chosen have all already made a real difference in their communities through tackling racism and discrimination. We have not been good enough making the changes that are needed to eliminate discrimination and ensure fairness.

“This panel will now be a platform to bring about further more substantial change and to turn our words into actions. It will provide challenge and support so Greater Manchester can achieve its goal of being a place where all voices are heard and where, working together, we can shape our future.”

“The Covid-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have shone a light on the long-standing inequalities and discrimination that exists in our society. We have to do more to increase equity and to improve relationships across our communities and with public services," said councillor Warrington.

“This panel will provide valuable insight into our diverse communities and enable political leaders to listen and act in a more targeted way.”

The panel is expected to elect a chair, or co-chairs at a future meeting.