News

Yesterday was International Women’s Day and The Asian Today honoured a group of BME women in their article “10 Inspirational British Asian Women”. Writer Hifzra Shaheen acknowledges ten innovative and motivational women who embody this year’s theme of #PledgeforParity, women who exhibit inspirational qualities and fight for equality.

Across England and Wales there is not one elected BME Police Crime Chief (PCC), and as we draw closer to the re-election of these PCC’s, it is unlikely that any of that will change. The one crumb of comfort in this barely democratic method – as average turnout for electing police chiefs was only 15 percent – and that was Yvonne Mosquito.

Magistrates (also called Justices of the Peace) are unpaid volunteers and come from a wide range of backgrounds and occupations – from bus drivers to architects, pilots to mechanics, nursery nurses to retired people, unemployed to teachers. They are ordinary men and women drawn from all backgrounds with common sense and personal integrity. You do not have to have any legal or academic qualifications and the keys qualities sought are focussed on being able to listen to all sides of an argument and contribute to fair and reasonable decisions.

A student-run campaign called #Right2Debate has launched a movement in the UK criticising the National Union of Student’s (NUS) policy of no-platform which prevents people or organisations with racist or fascist views from receiving platforms to speak at NUS events or becoming NUS representatives.

Research on the UK’s National Student Survey results shows a correlation between the ethnicity of lecturers and the scores they are given by students. This correlation, the Times Higher Education reports, “researchers at the University of Reading attribute to ‘unconscious bias’ on the part of respondents.”

There are an estimated 25 million Black and minority ethnic individuals living in the European Union today. Over six million BME individuals here in the UK.

The Cardiff school council has proposed catchment changes to the areas that provide students for the top rated Fitzalan High School and the low ranking Cantonian High School according to Wales Online.

With Welsh assembly elections due in May, parents, governors, and Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan and Cardiff West AM Mark Drakeford have all spoken out against these changes which have “potentially unwelcome implications for social and racial cohesion” according to a letter sent to the Cardiff Council cabinet member for education Sarah Merry.

During Donald Trump’s rally last night at Valdosta State University in Georgia 30 black students were told to leave the rally by Secret Service agents while they stood silently at the top of the bleachers.

Research will be revealed at the Oxford Media Convention on Wednesday showing the differences between different ethnic minorities and white audiences’ television patterns The Sunday Times reports.