10th Anniversary of Race Relations

Significant progress in tackling race discrimination, but is class the new disadvantage?

In a speech designed to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, the Communities Secretary John Denham will announce later today that the government has made significant progress in tackling racism over the last decade.

Speaking yesterday morning on BBC Today, in a debate on racism in Britain, Mr Denham and Lord Ousley, Chair of Kick it Out both agreed that while there are still examples of racial disadvantage, it is poverty and social class which dictate disadvantage more than skin colour.

The 2000 Amendment Act aimed to extend further the application of the Race Relations Act 1976 to the police and other public authorities. Mr Denham recognised the government’s efforts in placing an obligation on public bodies to promote equal opportunities. These efforts have, he claimed, resulted in ‘significant changes in education, the economy, in the professions and politics.’ He confirmed that while the government will maintain its commitment to tackling racial discrimination, the inequality that stems from social class can affect all race groups and that this is what needs addressing. Both Mr Denham and Lord Ousley were of the view that the equality gap has widened.

Mr Denham claimed that the government’s commitment will now be to tackle inequality ‘wherever it comes from’. This, he stated is being partially addressed in the Equality Bill, which is due to be implemented in October 2010.

The Equality Bill’s primary aims are expressed as ‘to strengthen the protection provided by discrimination law and harmonise complex discrimination legislation’ and to place on public authorities the ability and authority to deal with class inequality.

However, while the Bill encourages public bodies to tackle disadvantage by recruiting from under-represented groups, these ‘groups’ tend to be defined by reference to characteristics which are already protected, such as age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. The problem with social class inequality is that it is not only difficult to define but unspecific to any particular group. Legislating against it in public life and certainly in employment will pose an interesting challenge for the future.

For further information about Employment Law, contact Amanda Okill, Associate.