Specials DIVERSITY EMPLOYERS MAGAZINE Spring 2011 - Anniversary Commemorative Issue

British Politicians Worry About "Recessionary Racism

By Obi. O. Akwani
MGV Editor

Posted March 18, 2009

According to a March 9 report in the Financial Times of London, "all of the mainstream British political parties are worried that the economic crisis could lead to an increase in 'recessionary racism'."

This statement was contained in an address by Jim Murphy, the Scottish Secretary, to the Labor Party's Scottish Conference in Dundee, Scotland on Monday March 9, 2009.

The United Nations estimates that there are 176 million people living outside their country of birth today; and coupled with the fact that the recession is coming on in a 'genuinely global market', "all of this creates additional pressure points that were not so prominent in previous recessions," Mr. Murphy is quoted as saying.

In an apparent hit against Scotland's governing Scottish National Party (SNP), Murphy, the Scottish member of the British Labor Government, expressed fears that current economic conditions might become an excuse for taking things out on minorities. He reminded the gathering that the global banking crisis was as a result of "reckless lending in the subprime market in the US" and "some unforgivable 'banking vandalism' closer to home." He said that if any one group should be blamed for the financial calamity, it should be "irresponsible bankers on million-pound bonuses" and not minimum wage "industrious migrant workers."

Murphy has good reason to worry. During the 1990s recession, employment levels amongst ethnic minorities in Britain fell by ten percentage points more than other groups. He wants the SNP government in Scotland to follow the example of the Labor British government.

The Labor Party led government in London, fearing what happened during the last recession under a Conservative party government, announced plans to ensure ethnic minorities in the UK do not suffer more than other groups during this recession.

The British government plan enjoins the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to make continuous assessment of the impact of unemployment on ethnic minorities, women, the disabled and older workers and advise the government on steps to take. Trevor Phillips, the EHRC chairman and James Purnell, British Work and Pensions Secretary, will work together to assess whether any groups were suffering disproportionately in the recession.

“When we identify particular problems, we will know we need to adapt our policies to make sure that no one is left behind this time,” Purnell said.

But the plan is raising a lot of flak from the conservatives. The TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group wants government help allocated on the basis of need instead of on the basis of ethnic differences. Philip Davies, a Conservative Party member of the British parliament, called the plan 'outrageous' and said the government should be targeting all groups in a color-blind way. "Doing otherwise will only entrench racism," the Tory MP said.