May asked to publish audit on public services and racial bias

PRIME minister Theresa May has been urged to publish a survey of racial disparities in civil services after claims that her office delayed publishing the report as the findings were “explosive”.

Shadow minister for diverse communities Dawn Butler has written to the prime minister asking for the report’s conclusions to be published before parliament breaks for summer.

In the letter, Butler said: “This report is vital to building public trust which is at its lowest ebb, especially after the Grenfell tragedy and the appalling racist comments made by Anne Marie Morris, Conservative MP for Newton Abbott.”

Yesterday (July 12) marked four weeks since the blaze at the London tower block claimed over 75 lives, with many more yet to be identified.

A month after she became prime minister in July last year, May announced an “unprecedented audit of public services to reveal racial disparities and help end the burning injustices many people experience across Britain”.

It was aimed at showing the gap in outcomes for people from different backgrounds in areas such as health, education, childcare, welfare, employment, skills and criminal justice.

May said at the time: “It will reveal difficult truths, but we should not be apologetic about shining a light on injustices as never before. It is only by doing so we can make this country work for everyone, not just a privileged few.”

However, a Cabinet Office source was quoted by The Times yesterday (July 12) as saying that that the report was “pretty explosive”, with a Downing Street “insider” adding that it was “going to be pretty bad”.

Butler sought from the prime minister an assurance that the report will be “published in full before Parliament breaks for the summer next Thursday”.