PM picks David Lammy to tackle racism

In a move few expected the Prime Minister David Cameron has called upon an opposition MP, Labour’s David Lammy, to head an investigation into racism within the Criminal Justice system. Lammy will head a team that will look specifically at why Black people are treated much worse in every aspect once they’ve been arrested.

Cameron did not mince his words about the treatment Black people face within the Criminal Justice system stating:

It’s disgraceful that if you’re Black it seems you’re more likely to be sentenced for custody than if you’re white."

Not content with attacking the Criminal Justice System, Cameron let it be clear that his other targets include top academic institutions and big businesses both of which continue to lock out Black talent. Talking about this institutions Cameron said, 'this level of racism ‘shames our nation’.

Watching on the sidelines, the Labour party will once again be feeling that they’ve been out-manoeuvred by the Conservatives. The Labour still have the majority of the BME vote, but with big elections coming up in May, including the Mayoral Elections in London and Bristol and key local elections, The Prime Minister is stealing a march on the political oppositon and is making a big play for the crucial BME vote.

In regards to the Criminal Justice System review, the devil will be in the detail: What’s the scope, how big will the team and budget be; will David Lammy spend six months or year only to have his findings totally rejected by the Cameron?

Some would argue that whilst Labour is struggling to finds its voice in regards to effectively tackling race inequality Cameron can, ‘have his cake and eat it’ as the saying goes: He can sound tough on these issues, but continue to roll out immigration legislation that will make it easier for landlords to discriminate against Black people - which they are already doing- if tenants cannot show all the citizenship papers. With a chronic shortage of housing stock to rent, Landlords and agents are already locking out Black customers telling them the house or flat has been let, even though it’s still on the market. Now if they have to check papers, they’ll just say don’t even bother to consider Black tenants.

Equally Cameron has said nothing about the shocking pay discrepancy between Black and White workers doing exactly the same job. Today’s figures from the TUC highlight that Black workers are getting nearly 25% less than their white counterparts for the same job.

That the Prime Minister David Cameron is speaking out about race inequality has to be applauded, but a more comprehensive approach right across Whitehall would be a more meaningful intervention about tackling long term race inequality. Equally a serious debate and conversation about this would allow Cameron and others to boldly state that by tackling racism everyone benefits, Black and white communities, not least because by doing so we begin to unleash all the nation’s talent.

Simon Woolley