Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Sadiq Khan: BAME is a term of strength

LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said he prefers to keep the term BAME to represent people of colour in the UK.

Khan said the abbreviation - which stands for black, Asian and minority ethnic – is used as a term of "strength rather than weakness".


Khan told Eastern Eye on Wednesday (8): "I think the umbrella term BAME is very important for representing people of colour. There are different races of people, and different backgrounds.

“And what we don't want is the umbrella term to mask some of the challenges there are within different communities.”

His remarks come after broadcasters BBC and ITV said they would ban the use of the term following recommendations by broadcaster Lenny Henry.

An industry report published by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) highlighted that BAME is used as a catch-all to describe all non-white groups; however, the report concluded that the term fails to distinguish differences between the groups.

Khan said, “BAME has got a very important role to play as an umbrella term, but also let's not be embarrassed about talking about people of Pakistani heritage or people who are African Caribbean, people of Hindu faith, etc. We are a diverse city, a diverse country, I think it’s a strength not a weakness.”

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Viacom CBS UK have all agreed to avoid using the term in their content and communications.

More For You

Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

Gautam Adani

Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

SRI LANKA’S government started talks with India’s Adani Group to lower the cost of power from two wind power projects the group will build in the island nation’s northern province, the cabinet spokesman said last Tuesday (28).

Sri Lanka has been reviewing the group’s local projects after US authorities in November accused billionaire founder Gautam Adani and other executives of being part of a scheme to pay bribes to secure Indian power supply contracts. Adani has denied the allegations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

Kemi Badenoch delivers speech on January 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

CONSERVATIVE PARTY on Thursday (6) proposed a clampdown on all migrants by tightening citizenship rules and barring social benefit claimants from residency rights.

Kemi Badenoch, who took over from Rishi Sunak in November last year, outlined her first major policy agenda as Tory leader in a move seen as an attempt to win back the support of Conservative voters drawn to the far-right anti-immigrant Reform party.

Keep ReadingShow less
New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices
Sajid Javid

New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices

A NEW independent commission to improve cohesion would engage across all nations and regions of the UK by moving beyond Westminster-centric discussions and include more diverse voices, the director of British Future thinktank has said.

Sunder Katwala said building confidence across different groups will be a priority, as economic pressures and tensions due to Middle East conflict have polarised communities in the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less
Yarl’s-Wood-detention-centre-Getty

In 2018, she was detained at Yarl’s Wood detention centre after being told she would be deported. (Photo: Getty Images)

Court awards £100,000 to Pakistani asylum seeker over unlawful detention

A PAKISTANI asylum seeker has been awarded nearly £100,000 after a UK court ruled that she was unlawfully detained and subjected to breaches of her rights by the Home Office.

Nadra Almas, who arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2004, overstayed after her visa expired. She argued that returning to Pakistan would put her at risk as a Christian.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pakistan court gives unusual punishment to Youtuber Rajab Butt for owning lion cub

Pakistani zookeeper Mohammad Amir holds the confiscated lion cub at Lahore’s safari zoo last Tuesday (28)

Pakistan court gives unusual punishment to Youtuber Rajab Butt for owning lion cub

A PAKISTANI YouTube star who was gifted a lion cub on his wedding day avoided jail after promising a judge to upload animal rights videos for a year.

Rajab Butt has one of the largest online followings in south Asia, and his week-long nuptials in December were plastered over celebrity gossip websites.

Keep ReadingShow less