As the UK gears up for its upcoming elections on July 4, 2024, a critical omission persists across the manifestos of the country’s leading political parties regarding the effective tackling of structural racism. Despite commitments to race equality initiatives, including a proposed cross-government strategy by the Liberal Democrats, a new Race Equality Act from Labour, and efforts by the Conservatives to address racial inequality in the criminal justice system, all parties have failed to articulate comprehensive plans to combat systemic racial injustices.
The backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic communities, and the aftermath of global civil rights movements sparked by incidents like the murder of George Floyd, underscores the urgency for robust policy measures. However, the manifestos largely skirt the systemic challenges faced by these communities, perpetuating a discourse dominated by immigration issues rather than addressing everyday racial disparities.
One glaring oversight in the manifestos is the failure to address the stark disparities in life expectancy among individuals with learning disabilities from Black, South Asian, or minoritised ethnic backgrounds. Shockingly, research highlights that individuals in these groups face an average life expectancy of just 34 years, compared to 62 years for their white counterparts. Similarly, the higher risks of maternal mortality among Black and Asian women during pregnancy remain unaddressed.
During the pandemic, despite alarming data on the disproportionate impact on healthcare workers from ethnic minority backgrounds, policy responses were insufficient. The initial recognition of these disparities by Public Health England did not translate into effective safeguards for vulnerable communities, who often faced higher risks due to frontline roles, inadequate housing, and limited support mechanisms.
The diversity within the UK Parliament has seen an unprecedented increase, yet this diversity has not translated into meaningful action on racial inequality. While ethnic minority representation in governmental offices has grown, key recommendations from reviews addressing systemic racism, such as those on mental health and the Windrush scandal, have been inadequately implemented or ignored.
Moreover, some policy measures have exacerbated racial disparities. The introduction of the two-child benefits cap disproportionately affects children from ethnic minority backgrounds, worsening poverty levels. Despite calls for its repeal, commitments from political parties remain tentative, raising concerns about the depth of their commitment to equity.
Critically, the backgrounds of ethnic minority MPs often lack direct experience with poverty or housing deprivation, potentially hindering a nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by their constituents. This disconnect underscores the limitations of ethnic diversity alone in addressing systemic issues without corresponding lived experiences that inform effective policymaking.
As the nation prepares to cast its votes, the absence of robust strategies to address structural racism raises doubts about the prospects for meaningful progress. The lessons from Covid-19 demand not just acknowledgment of disparities but actionable policies that prioritize equity. Failure to prioritize these issues risks perpetuating entrenched inequalities that continue to undermine economic opportunities and social cohesion for ethnic minority communities in the UK.
