White Race Riots: I don't know which is worse, the racism of our enemies or the silence of our friends.

As a British Black community, we anticipated that the white working class, once disillusioned by the false promises of Brexit, would direct their anger and frustration towards Muslims, Black people, asylum seekers—anyone but those truly responsible: the ruling elite and bankers. Unfortunately, as we've seen after a horrendous weekend of white race riots and please let call them what they are, race riots, some of our worst fears have been fully realised this weekend.

Trapped in a cost-of-living crisis, witnessing the degradation of public services the poorer areas of the UK have identified anyone assumed who is not a 20^th generational ‘White Anglo-Saxon Protestant’ (WASP) to be a part of the “British multiculturalism: problem. 

Led there over the last quarter of a century, by right-wing politicians in all parties and supported by sections of a hysterical right wing press, and a libertarian style Tory Government, Britain’s poorer communities and xenophobic press have enjoyed and indeed revelled in an old style, but all too common national conspiracy within western nations. They have systematically with their full chest vilified Islam and launched an ideological war on progressive values in a so called ’war on the woke.” 

Both here and in the US, we see the evidence of how white men seem to be having a collective nervous breakdown which I believe is a consequence of the realisation that demographic projections show the global birth rate of white people dropping catastrophically, whilst Black and Brown peoples and their nations are rising. Add to this the reality of inevitable decline of western economies whose GDP rates barely have a pulse and the continuing rise of the BRICS nations, and the rapid de-dollarisation of the global economy that is taking place, and you can see why they’re pissed. They can see the end coming. 

White billionaires have looked at their demographics, done the maths and are terrified by what they see. This is what the lurid nightmares of racists are made of and why we are living our lives subject to their worst racist imaginations, entrapped by the worst fears and lack of empathy of some white people. 

For those of the pointy hood disposition their most indelible fears can be summed up in the title of Public Enemy’s 1990’s seminal Hip Hop album “The Fear of a Black Planet.”  Wracked by fear some billionaire whites have set out to fund their survival which they see as being inextricably linked to maintaining a WASP nation and culture. Their impeding economic and political decline explains the increasingly hysterical nature to their xenophobic racism as they desperately seek to engineer another outcome.  

Whilst those that work on amplifying haltered are loud and obnoxious our friends and allies’ voices have been muted, some have in attempt to gain electoral popularity conceded to aspects of racism and have become utterly consumed by it. Once staunch anti-racist allies now engage in a largely cosmetic anti racism that is performative and ineffectual, whilst some have unforgivably accepted and therefore legitimised racist sentiment on immigration. 

It was Dr Martin Luther King Jnr who during the US civil rights struggle and lamenting the soft, cosmetic ant racism and lack of action from white liberals said,  

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Talking about friends, the past fourteen years, Labour’s concessions to this racist narrative have only served to normalise and legitimise these sentiments. 

The 2016 Brexit referendum catalysed this tectonic plate shift, transforming xenophobia and racism into perceived legitimate concerns of the white working class, and driven by a relentless and hostile media agenda. Labour’s willing compliance on issues of immigration, policing, and foreign aid created a fertile ground for the rise of the extreme right. We are now facing the consequences of politicians who chose to exploit racism for electoral gain, whose actions have led to a post Brexit society that is wracked with racial tensions and animus.

The complicity of centrists and liberals in this state of affairs isn’t always evident. However those with a keen eye will report that the UK has now adopted a form of organised racism and fascism reminiscent and modelled on the success of modern European continental fascism. It wont be lost on many that Britain left the EU and imported European style fascism. 

The left’s failure to robustly oppose racism has led us to our current predicament. Whilst the Labour movement and trade unions have done some great work in challenging racism and fascism in 2024 their anti-racism has become antiquated, compromised, cosmetic and ineffectual,  The lefts failure challenge austerity and to understand the importance of ensuring poorer communities were supported and educated about the nature of racism through political education means these communities were left angry that Labour had let them down locally and utterly vulnerable to racist exploitation by organised racists. 

The long lesson from history is that when political leaders legitimise racism for their own political or party benefit, the repercussions are inevitably disastrous.

And today we see that those who once demanded to "take back their country" and who told us this wasn’t at all racist, now seem to yearn for an increasingly homogeneously white Christian nation. 

Both Frage and Tommy Robinson are cowards really and should say what they really want and just be upfront with the public. They believe, there are just too many Muslims, Black people, and asylum seekers in the UK.  They really want to ban Islam, shut down Mosques and end all non-white non-Christian immigration to the UK. In essence what this post Brexit ‘we want our country back ‘refrain now means today is “we want our circa 1940’s white Christian country back.  

Yesterday it was Brexit. today’s narrative is about stopping the boats; tomorrow, it will focus on enforced mass deportations. In 2024 as Black and Asian communities we now find ourselves under sustained and brutal racist attacks, betrayed by both the right and the left.

To all the genuine anti-racists defending their communities, I offer my deepest respect. We know there are many more of us than there are of them. We need to make sure communities are educated about the risk and mobilised to take action.  

Talking of action it’s time for trade unions to take decisive action and fund large-scale anti-racism initiatives. We need dynamic Black leadership at the forefront of the anti-racist movement to avoid past pitfalls. It’s imperative to decolonise the left’s traditional approaches to anti-racism and rebuild with strength and resilience. We need a government that addresses the root causes of endemic poverty and austerity, which breeds racism, hostility, and division.

The future appears bleak. We can look forward to more neoliberal falsehoods about the economy and that inevitably leads to more scapegoating. Trapped in an economic straight jacket of their own making Labour’s stunning election win but poor popularity has already be shown to be broad and thin. Maintaining an alliance with Sunderland and Southall is no easy feat. 

When things eventual turn sour for Labour as they struggle to meet expectations, we may see in a couple of years more race riots and a revitalised Farage leading a rebranded Tory party, challenging Labour on race and immigration. The environment in certain parts of the country is becoming increasingly hostile. 

What, then, is the solution? British democracy is at a crossroads, and we need a Labour party that unequivocally rejects racism.

We need a trade union movement that invests in political education for the working class and funds Black and Asian anti-racist organisations. We also need substantial democratic reforms. If racism is to persist as a characteristic of British politics, it is preferable to have these views expressed openly, where they can be challenged. Proportional representation is crucial for restoring faith in democracy, even if it means the election of some racists.

We must unify, demand better anti racist leadership, and ensure our voices resonate in the halls of power. Only through collective effort and unwavering commitment can we hope to build a more inclusive and just Britain, Whether or not we can achieve that goal is not certain, Whether Britain becomes a modern 21^st century multicultural democracy or an antiquated mono cultural relic of the past now hangs precariously in the balance. 

 

 

Unprecedented Coalition Rallies for Diane Abbott Amidst Racism Row and Political Hypocrisy

In a remarkable show of unity, a broad coalition of leaders from the UK's most influential UK African Asian and Caribbean organisations committed to ending racism has penned an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, spotlighting the unsettling and alarming circumstances surrounding Diane Abbott, MP, the UK's first black female MP, and the broader issues of racism and hypocrisy within the nation's political landscape.

Diane Abbott, a veteran Labour MP, has found herself at the heart of a contentious racism row involving a significant Tory donor, Frank Hester, whose derogatory remarks about her have ignited widespread outrage. In addition, Hester's call for Diane to be shot in an age of increasing political violence is a criminal act worthy of prosecution. This controversy has been further inflamed by the Labour Party's attempt to leverage the scandal for fundraising purposes, despite Abbott's ongoing suspension and the party's reluctance to confront issues of racism and sexism within its ranks head-on.

In an email to its members, the Labour Party expressed indignation over the Conservative Party's refusal to return a £10m donation from Hester despite his definitive and unambiguous racist comments towards Abbott. This cynical fundraising approach has drawn sharp criticism from Abbott herself, who decried the rank hypocrisy of using her situation as a fundraising tool. At the same time, she and many Africans and Asians remain marginalised within the party, and Black communities across the UK read the Forde Report with anger and disgust. Kier Starmer's response to the Forde report's devastating findings has been sloth-like cosmetic and and performative.

The Speaker of the House humiliated Diane 40 times during the debate on Hester's comments. This enraged people throughout the country, as he quite doggedly and determinedly refused to call Diane. Millions of people stood with her each time she stood, and she persevered with tremendous strength, dignity, and poise.

The coalition's letter to the Prime Minister criticises the government's slow response to denounce Hester's comments as racist, suggesting it reflects a wider reluctance to tackle racism decisively. This reluctance, the coalition argues, not only undermines the fight against racism but also hints at a tacit acceptance of such ideologies within the political discourse.

The letter calls for immediate action, urging the Conservative Party to make a clear statement against racism and engage in meaningful dialogue on systemic racism. It emphasizes the need for the UK government to lead by example in the fight against racism and promote a society where equality, respect, and inclusivity are paramount.

This unprecedented coalition, including representatives from Operation Black Vote, Action for Race Equality, Runnymede Trust, Black Equity Organisation, Muslim Council of Britain, Racial Justice Advocacy Forum (representing the Black church) and many others, highlights the severity of the situation and the urgent need for a united stand against racism in all forms.

The situation surrounding Diane Abbott not only raises questions about political fundraising ethics but also casts a spotlight on the ongoing challenges of racism and sexism in UK politics. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of consistent and principled stands against race discrimination and the need for all political parties to reflect deeply on their policies, practices, and responses to racism within their ranks.

As this situation unfolds, it is clear that the coalition's call to action goes beyond a single incident, urging a comprehensive and enduring commitment to combating racism across the political spectrum. The unity and resolve demonstrated by this diverse group of leaders offer a beacon of hope for meaningful change and a more inclusive, equitable society.

To:  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 

         10 Downing Street, 

         Westminster,

         London SW1A 2AA, 

Thursday, 14 March 2024

Dear Prime Minister Rishi Sunak,

Subject: Diane Abbott MP

We write to you collectively as concerned citizens and representatives of various national organisations committed to ending racism and promoting equality in our society. With a heavy heart and deep concern, we address the recent revelations surrounding Mr Frank Hester’s remarks and the Conservative Party’s response to them.

Firstly, we must express our profound disappointment and concern over the initial reluctance of Downing Street and Conservative ministers to denounce Mr Hester’s remarks as racist categorically. While we acknowledge the subsequent statement labelling the comments as "racist and wrong," this delayed response is emblematic of a broader, troubling trend within the current government's approach to addressing racism. The hesitancy to immediately and unequivocally condemn such remarks not only undermines the fight against racism but also signals a tacit acceptance of such ideologies within the political discourse.

Moreover, the fact that Mr. Hester felt emboldened to express such vile sentiments, to begin with, speaks to an increasingly normalised culture of racism that has been allowed to fester under the current administration. This normalisation is further compounded by the government's persistent denial of the reality of systemic racism, which has significant implications for the inclusivity and cohesiveness of our society.

The remarks made about Ms Diane Abbott MP are not only abhorrent and frightening, especially considering her status as Britain’s longest-serving Black MP and the personal impact these comments have had on her, but they also reflect a broader issue of racism and sexism that cannot be ignored. The donation of £10m to the Conservative Party by Mr Hester and his company, under these circumstances, becomes a matter of ethical concern and raises questions about the integrity and values that the Party wishes to uphold.

We, therefore, call on you, the Prime Minister and the Conservative Party to take immediate and tangible steps to address this situation. This includes a clear statement that the Conservative Party does not endorse racism in any form and is committed to taking a stand against it. 

We also urge your government to engage in a more meaningful dialogue on systemic racism, acknowledging its existence and working collaboratively with communities and organisations to dismantle these deep-seated inequities.

We note that you have celebrated the diversity of your cabinet and government. We would invite you to take this opportunity to champion the cause of anti-racism and to lead by example, demonstrating that the UK government is unequivocally committed to fighting racism and fostering a society where equality, respect, and inclusivity are paramount.

Sincerely,

David Weaver Chair Operation Black Vote

Shabna Begum CEO Runnymede Trust

Timi Okuwa, CEO of Black Equity Organisation

Jeremy Crook, CEO of Action for Race Equality 

Lee Jasper Chair Alliance of Police Accountability 

Zara Mohammed, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain. 

Viv Ahmun Co-Founder Blaksox

Lord Simon Woolley

Revd Wale Hudson-Roberts: Justice Enabler for the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Minister at John Bunyan Baptist Church, Oxford.

Dr Richard Reddie, Director of Justice and Inclusion: Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Jabeer Butt OBE CEO Race Equality Foundation 

 

 

 

Why Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointment of Tony Sewell is a calculated slap in the face for BAME Britons.

Tony Sewell needs to be removed as Chair of the Government Inquiry into racism, for one reason and one reason alone, and that's because he doesn't believe that systemic, institutional racism in a real thing.

Tony Sewell shows a remarkable consistency in dismissing the realities of racism. Such a perspective makes him entirely unsuitable for an inquiry into racism. 

That Prime Minister Boris Johnson has chosen someone like Tony Sewell is a deliberate, calculated provocation and a slap in the face for the vast majority of BAME people, 

Tony's views on issues of racism are not representative of BAME communities as confirmed the largest poll survey on this issue in recent times, and conducted by ITV that demonstrated that BAME communities believe structural racism is real and increasing. 

Another poll conducted by YouGov in June confirmed 84% of BAME Brits the racism still exists in Britain today with only 12% agreeing with the statement that there was very little racism in Britain. 

So Tony's appointment, given his perspectives on racism is entirely at odds with the vast majority of views of BAME communities. 

Here are some of Tony's headline views that further reinforce why he is not the right person to chair the Race Equality Commission. 

He claimed, "Structural racism doesn't explain why black people are more likely to die from Covid."  

The apparent answer? "Genetics is the 'bad boy' of science, but it may give us part of the answer" [7.5.20 The Telegraph]

He further claimed, "A culture of low aspiration wrecks the hope of both white and black working-class kids" [6.1.20 The Telegraph]

"Teach the young to respect authority to end the chaos and

 violence on our streets" [20.8.20 The Telegraph]

Suggests that 'disparities between races aren't necessarily down to racism' [20.7.20 The Times]

Last year he suggested that his 'mate' Rod Liddle was right in thinking absent fathers are responsible for youth killing. He states racism and poverty are not people must stop blaming gang violence on and poverty and embrace middle‑class values [19.1.20 The Times]

In 2006 he suggested that schools were failing black boys because lessons had become too "feminised". He told the NASUWT union in a conference in London that Schools focused too much on "feminine" qualities such as organisation and attentiveness….

Further back in 2000 he suggested that anti-intellectual Afro-Caribbean youth culture was one of the reasons girls performed better than boys in school.

In 2010, when writing for Prospect magazine regarding the academic performance of Afro-Caribbean boys, he suggested that "much of the supposed evidence of institutional racism is flimsy".

In 2008 Warwick University published findings pointing toward institutional racism holding back Black Caribbean pupils. It found that they were subject to institutional racism in English schools, which dramatically undermined their chances of academic success. This included a significant proportion of Black Caribbean pupils being excluded from taking harder papers with no theoretical justification. 

Tony Sewell responded by suggesting that 'racism was not the problem.' Instead, he concluded, "it was more likely to do with the inability or unwillingness of these students to break away from an anti-education peer group that loves the street more than the classroom."

He has been consistent in his stance that Black African & Caribbean children's educational attainment gap is nothing to do with institutional racism and simply a reflection of 'poor parenting, peer-group pressure and an inability to be responsible for their own behaviour.'

In the aftermath of the 2011 riots, he pointed toward an "ethos of materialism — or 'bling' to use the street term — that pervades urban black youth" as having played "a major part in the widespread criminality perpetrated by rioters of all races." This is despite the r300% increase in place stop and searches recorded at the time during Boris Johnson London Mayoralty and the shooting of Mark Duggan.

He added:

"What motivated the troublemakers was not genuine poverty but rather a raw acquisitiveness that is fuelled by so much in this black-led youth culture, from the imagery in rap videos to the lyrics of hip-hop music. The twin central themes of this world are sex and material possessions.

He claimed that the Governments Race Disparity Unit that

records rates of racial inequality, across Government departments, made black people look like 'pathetic losers'.

Further, in response to a 2017 Government report urging public services to "explain or change" to the disparities in how people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds are treated, he took issue with the terminology used suggesting that labels like 'racial injustice' do more harm than good.

More recently, he questioned the authenticity/integrity of Black Lives Matter protesters. "I wonder really whether most of those young people on that Black Lives Matter demonstration really had experienced any racism at all." 

 Conclusion.

Tony's appointment makes no sense. What is required of such an enquiry is someone who can be led by the evidence, whose views are reflective of the consensus opinion of British BAME communities. His appointment is akin to appointing Brer Fox as chair of an inquiry into the disproportionate deaths of chickens. 

 

 

Latest Episode #LeeJasperDriveTime Out Every Friday.

Breaking through with your help. This week's Lee Jasper Drive Time features Ife Thompson of #BLAM also our brand new news section #BrixtonAnalytica and #VoxPops on racism in Universities, an update on the #NeomiBennet #StopAndSearch case. the tragedy of 39 migrants dying in a shipping container in Essex, Please support the channel Ljdt Brixton, like, share and smash the bell...leave a comment, we’d love to hear from you. Have a great weekend. Bless. 

Gilets Noir: The New Black Power in Europe

There is a new powerful black movement emerging in France, that former imperial bastion of liberty, equality, and fraternity has seen the reawakening of the spirit of 18th century, Haitian revolutionary leader Toussaint L’Ouverture. Brilliantly immortalised in the book of the late great Trinidadian author, academic and activist C.L.R James “The Black Jacobins” it was Toussaint who organized and led enslaved Africans in Haiti, during their fight for freedom during the height of 18th-century Napoleonic French imperialism. 

Although the French revolution occurred in 1789 with the publication of the Rights of Man, as with most modern-day declarations of the principle of universal human rights, it would apply exclusively to whites only, not those kept in bondage on French plantations. 

French socialism and liberty, much like international human rights conventions were then and remains now a strictly reserved area of white privilege.

This new radical and emerging movement of undocumented migrants in France, Gilets Noir or the Black Vests, as they are also known, is the natural successor to the earlier Sans Papier Movement and has been inspired of late by the Yellow Jacket, Gilets Jaunes movement. This new movement is dedicated to regularising those African migrants without papers and challenging the appalling condition of their pay and working conditions, being brutally exploited by French employers, using their "illegal" status as leverage to enforce low pay and horrendous conditions.

You can see these Africans all over Europe on any given morning, between the hours of 4 AM and 6 AM or way past midnight, They're are the office cleaners, Uber and Deliveroo drivers, working on construction sites, some are restaurant workers, security staff and the like, all making their way to work for European capitalists, happy to exploit the for-profit, and simultaneously funding the extreme right-wing, right across Europe. 

One of their first and most high profile actions, undertaken by Gilets Noir was in May of this year, saw the mass occupation of Charles de Gaulle airport, where they demand to meet French President Macron “the official deporter of the French state." They stood firm in the face of being tear-gassed by the French police, they refused to move and then demanded to meet with senior representatives of the French airline demanding that they "stop any financial logistical or political participation in deportations".

They also recently occupied multinational company Elior who they accuse of brutally exploiting African migrants and refusing to facilitate their pathway to legal citizenship in France. They were also demanding that the company ceases providing cleaning, catering and laundry services to French detention centers. They occupied the company's headquarters in what they described as the heart of imperialism, the Paris business district. 

On 12^thJuly this year they organised a hugely successful mass occupation of the Pantheon of Paris, the revered state mausoleum of Napoleon. They held the space for several hours in protest and were then subjected to all-out attack,  brutally beaten by the French Gendarmes’.  Most in the United Kingdom are not even aware that less than an hour away from London; Africans were subjected to a mass beating by the French police. Such as our own Anglophile prejudice, we know more about what happened to A$AP Rocky in Sweden. Sigh...

On the 21^stJuly Gilets Noir called a general assembly, attended by over 1000 people, where they began to strategies the continuation of their struggle for equality and justice. This was followed by a mass rally at the Place de le Sorbonne.  

It will be interesting to see how the French left, sections of who can be ambivalent in the fight against racism, respond to the attacks on Gilete Noir. In any event, what we see in France, I think could represent a very historic turning point. 

The Black leadership of Europe has historically been seen as being in Britain. I think that mantle has now passed to France. British Blacks have simply lost their revolutionary spirit of freedom, as can be witnessed by the massive contrast between Africans in France demonstrating against racist immigration policies and the largely tepid response of British Black community to the Windrush Scandal, detention centers, and deportations.

The Black French, from Toussaint to Franz Fanon, have a fine tradition of revolutionaries' opposing French imperialism. That resistance can be traced all the way back to the French Imperial Colony and sugar plantation of 18th-century Haiti.

Despite all the acclaimed glories of the French Revolution, enslaved Africans on 18^thcentury French plantations remained in bondage under the auspices of the revolutionary leadership of the French Revolution. This monumental betrayal was critical in providing the catalyst for African revolution on both French and other plantations, right across the enslaved world.

The progressive principles of the French revolution did not apply to enslaved Africans.

The glorious leaders of the French revolution, failed the first test of any genuine revolutionary movement, freedom, and liberty for all. It was, in many ways, the historical beginning of the long history of European white left hypocrisy on racism. 

And even today, we see the continued betrayal of black communities in Europe, by European progressive left movements whose tokenistic antiracism and cosmetic commitment to defeating racial inequality, xenophobia, and bigotry, was back in the day and remains today, a cheap commodity easily traded off for short term electoral gain. like the ultimate French betrayal of all enslaved Africans, that saw a cheap deal between the inordinate white privilege of the European labour aristocracy, in a tawdry effort to gain power and secure the votes of their respective domestic, racists and xenophobes.  

Here in Britain too, we’ve seen, in recent times, popular left support for Brexit result in racism on the British left, that has remarkably seen, the likes of Nigel Farage and Georg Galloway singing a from the same hymn sheet on Brexit. Given my own past association with George, I find this a horrific, grotesque and inexplicable anomaly. 

I suppose for the purposes of clarity and balance I should declare my own prejudice and state categorically that I believe that Brexit is a project of the extreme right-wing that is seeking to fundamentally reshape British society and more importantly the economy, into a low paid, tax avoidance, a xenophobic hellhole. My own assessment is that racism and fascism will be exponentially amplified as a consequence of the disastrous consequences of Brexit, and as we all know, when the European middle-class feels the pinch, it's black people who feel the punch.

The complicity of the British left with racism has plenty of receipts too.  

Students of politics will recall the historic alliance of Tony Benn and Enoch Powell in the last EU referendum in 1973.  It’s a dangerous trend with profound historical precedents. British jobs for British workers is a popular refrain among the left, some of whom have become entranced by the fiction of securing socialism in one country. 

Meanwhile, as British austerity rips through British black communities like a Force 10 hurricane, we see a trade union and Labour movement that appears largely content with the disproportionate effects of austerity, that have seen British black workers disproportionately made redundant, disciplined and sacked, and whole communities suffer the degradation of massive surges of cuts to services, increased poverty, and sky-high unemployment. 

Nationally, we have 55% black youth unemployment currently, That is a higher unemployment rate for Palestinian youth in the West Bank Gaza. It’s higher than the youth unemployment rate of Greece and Italy, both of whose economies are in the toilet. Where is the British left voice on this? Praying for a Brexit that will see black youth unemployment, poverty and racism become deeply entrenched and culturally endemic. 

Some British Black's are blithely approaching Brexit as if nothing will change. It's a fact that we endure wholesale discrimination within criminal justice and policing, and austerity has massively amplified racism and racial inequality across the board, and just like the original French revolutionaries, the British trade union movement, with some notable exceptions like the PCS Union, have mostly failed to defend black communities, from the most vicious and sustained period of Torystate-backed racism, we’ve ever faced throughout Britain's entire post-war period. 

The left has failed us and failed to stop the increases in race hate. They’ve failed to check Farage,  and failed black workers and communities under attack. We now face resurgent racism, that is raging out of control with no apparent credible response from the left, other than the usual, tired arse, left tropes of cosmetic antiracism and anti-fascism.

Intrinsic to this failure is the lack of genuine and authentic black leadership within the antiracist and labour movement. As such, British anti-racism remains the prisoner of the trade union bureaucracy and Bennites. It's that simple, instead of confronting state racism, weak Trade Unions prefer these wonderfully choreographed, set-piece anti-fascist, punch up's with the old enemy. It's a pantomime style of anti-racism. 

For the British left, it's so much easier to prioritise chasing Tommy Robinson around the country than it is to confront the state racism of institutional discrimination within policing and criminal justice. Windrush, police racism, criminalisation of black communities, racist attacks on the rise, disproportionate redundancies for black workers, deportations, exclusions from school, profound racial inequalities in rates of health, are just some of the issues that remain largely untouched by the British left. 

When European economies decline, racism and fascism always rise. Today we see European economies stalling in the headwinds of globalisation, creeping along with growth rates between 1% and 3%.  Most see rapidly declining birth rates, whilst  Western nations have seen their percentage of global GDP continually falling against the backdrop of the economic and political rise of China, India, and Africa, they see and understand their inevitable future. 

Their response is the perennial cultural European cultural default setting in extremis.

In times of acute economic crisis: racism divides the working classes, so as to leave the wealthy untouched. The poverty of natural resources, combined with falling birth rates in Europe, leaves them with their go-to option, of seeking to forcibly appropriate, through war and domination or use the International Monetary Fund mechanisms to forcibly access other nations wealth and resources. Any cursory examination of the second Cold War currently developing on the African continent provides ample evidence of the new scramble for Africa. 

Toussaint was enslaved until the age of 33 and went on to lead the first African revolutionary liberation of a former colonial plantation anywhere in the world. Not only did he defeat the French Napoleonic army, securing freedom for the former slaves, but he also inspired the enslaved African Diaspora to rise up in glorious bloody rebellion.

One of the least discussed aspects of Britain leaving the European Union is the breakup of relations between black people here in Britain and those resident in the rest of Europe.

In many ways over the last 50 years, black European communities have long sought to emulate and admired the work of British activists, particular in securing legislative protection against race discrimination and the pioneering antiracist work of British black communities demanding justice. Throughout the 1990s we were the leading voices in convincing the European Union to strengthen and enhance race equality legislation as part of Europe's fundamental human rights framework.

We worked hard to secure that victory and it was really based on the precedent set here in the United Kingdom that forced the rest of Europe to fall in line with our collective demands for the enshrined legal protection of black European citizens. 

We have marched with our brothers and sisters in Paris in solidarity against both Le Pen’s and the far right. We have supported and stood with African migrants in Italy, and were outraged as we witnessed the macabre recreation of the dreaded 'middle passage' of transatlantic slave trade crossing, that saw thousands of Africans being exploited and left to drown in the Mediterranean Sea, in an attempt to escape Arab enslavement in Libya, war and poverty. 

The movement in the United Kingdom led by organisations like Black Activist Against The Cuts, worked hard to bring supplies to the African refugees of Calais and the Society of Black lawyers organised black British delegations to Italy to assess and support efforts to rescue and resettle refugees. 

Today, all over the Western world we see the rise of racism and xenophobia and in Europe and America, that trend is particularly accentuated.

What we see is the relentless rise of the extreme right-wing, culminating in violent infringements of black people's rights, such as the Windrush scandal and the continuing saga of the criminalisation of black communities, through a criminal justice system that is immersed in a culture of institutionalised racism, producing disproportionate outcomes from for black people at every turn.

In many ways we are third-class citizens, living in a supposed "first-class democracy"

Whether it is the glorious French Revolution or the perfect meritocracy of Britain, as black people in Europe we need to consolidate and prepare for the impending social and economic crisis it that will hit the economies of Britain and Europe, and the subsequent social chaos that will disproportionately and overwhelmingly hit the poorest. We must prepare for a massive upsurge in racism and fascism, such as the like of which, we have not seen in our lifetime.

In the age of Trump, I salute our French African brothers and sisters reviving the revolutionary spirit of Toussaint L’Ouverture. The days when black British activists were considered the leaders of race equality, freedom and antiracism across Europe, much like Britain itself is a faded glory , and as we contemplate the implications of Brexit for Britain and Europe, European black leadership and unity will be absolutely critical to surviving and ultimately defeating the rise of the extreme right in Europe, and white supremacy across the globe. 

I salute the radical leadership of Gilets Noir.

In September l will be organising a London public meeting with Gilete Noir to begin discussing joint strategies, solidarity and how we can tighten the relationship between Africans in France and in Europe. 

It’s time to break out the Brexit cabal and forge Black European Power Network. 

Theresa May: Even a broken clock’s right twice a day.

There will be many who will be glad to see the back of Theresa May as she prepares to leave office this week. I must confess to having my own prejudices. A Labour Party member and being born in the great city of Manchester, opposing the Tories is not just in my DNA, it's a way of life.

Sometimes, however, the grass can look greener on the other side, and sometimes it's better the devil you know. I'll explain later, stay with me.

So with Boris's Johnston's imminent arrival as Prime Minister attention inevitably falls on the team he will take with him into number 10.

Munira Murza: One Of Boris Johnsons  Top Aides

Munira Murza and Ray Lewis will no doubt be chief among them, and in fact, Boris has already stated his intention to bring in Munira as one his top aides at No 10.

Munira was born in the former Lancashire mill town of Oldham, a town I grew up in too. She is reputedly married to swinging, millionaire,  a sex party organiser, however, when it comes to the issues of anti-racism and race equality, this interesting libertine like liberalism appears to stretch no further than her domestic arrangements.

Being Mancunians, we've both seen first hand the economic and social devastation caused to the old mill towns of Lancashire like Oldham, in addition, to the coal mining towns of Yorkshire to Nottinghamshire and beyond, as a consequence of the direct deindustrialization policies implemented by Margaret Thatcher and the Tories.

Economic policies that saw whole areas and entire communities slowly descend into an economic abyss as a result of Tory policies.

What I see today. as I travel north to visit family and friends, are poverty-stricken communities where hope and opportunity left town decades ago, leaving behind the empty echoes of a vibrant past, abandoned industrial estates,  now the soulless cathedrals and abandoned pits,  all now stand proud, alone and empty, shadows of their former industrial selves.

So I'm no fan of Tories although I consider myself quite discerning in this regard.

Most African and Carribean communities are naturally conservative, with a small 'c' and having lived with criminally high levels of mass unemployment for decades, are generally supportive of anything pro-small business support and entrepreneurialism.

One thing Boris did do well as Mayor of London was to bring the Black business community into City Hall and surrounded himself with a small coterie of black conservatives. Boris may be weak on policy and detail but he is a consummate schmoozer and his relationships with London Black communities were well developed, even if ultimately tokenistic and largely ineffective. Boris could take you to the very gates of hell itself, and still make you feel good about the journey.

The nation should take note, it's one of his most mercurial and at the same time insidious political strengths.

Many in our community, much like many other struggling and simultaneously aspiring communities, are simply enthralled by millionaires like Boris, and he plays the benevolent, accessible politician so well, that most are seduced and charmed by his money and obvious charisma.

As Jay-Z said, laid up against a wicked backbeat, "There are no ugly millionaires" that wasn't just a comment about aesthetics, it was a comment about power and money.

I've worked with many Tories over the years and it's my experience that "old school Tories" were at least men and women at their word.  Boris isn't one of them. Old school Tories were politicians who took their jobs seriously, who were statesmanlike (most were men, other than that woman) and whose yes meant yes, and whose no meant no. These were the genuine One Nation Tories of the past, whose personal ethics were as important as their political ambitions.

You can do business with an old school Tory, not this new lot, you count your fingers after shaking hands with this Eaton mob. Their word lasts about as long as it does for the ink to dry on paper.

Notwithstanding all that, I find myself in the surprising, curious and no doubt in some quarters, unpopular position of thinking Theresa May, has left at least one positive legacy, that I think should be acknowledged.

Whatever one's political view on Theresa May more broadly, there can be no doubt she was a Prime Minister who has done more than any other PM in challenging the discriminatory use of stop and search by British police services and conducted the largest race equality audit ever conducted in the history of the British government.

When she established the Race Disparity Unit inside number 10 Downing Street she demanded of Whitehall. Permanent Secretaries. Government departments carried out the audit, identify racial inequality and disproportionality and either "explain or change" these apparent racial inequalities.


By anyone's assessment, this was an unprecedented action by a Tory Prime Minister.

When she spoke about tackling "burning injustices" on the steps of 10 Downing Street, and the differential experience of black boys within the criminal justice system, May brought a much-needed spotlight on an issue, that is a continual running sore amongst black communities, whilst remaining deeply contentious among some in the policing establishment.  May was unafraid, she was bold and she was determined to establish a comprehensive picture of the racial inequalities faced by black and ethnic minority British citizens.

Even as Home Secretary, she was pushing this issue. May presented a policy to the then Prime Minister, David Cameron and the Cabinet, in 2016 calling for complete race equality audit of government. That proposal was rejected by Cameron who adopted some pale facsimile thereof, however once Theresa May became Prime Minister she resurrected that proposal and drove through its implementation, despite opposition from some cabinet colleagues and senior civil servants.

For May, this wasn't simply political rhetoric, it was a solid commitment she maintained.

For example, she didn't need to face down the Police Federation conference on the issue of racism, but she did just that, amidst the slow handclaps, the booing and catcalls, she persevered undeterred, determined to face down police racism.

Who would have thought that Lee Jasper, "black left-wing firebrand" and a Tory Prime Minister would end up on the same page on the issue of institutional racism in the police service?   Both on my Twitter feed and elsewhere on social media, police officers would be frothing at the mouth with outrage every time I reminded them, that on this issue I'm in a consensus with the Tory Prime Minister. Apart from the deep political significance of this unlikely political convergence, I have to admit to having tremendous fun pointing this out.


That's the measure of the distance travelled by the Prime Minister on this issue.

Of course, there is a valid argument that says that all the good work she did in this particular regard is overshadowed by the realities of the Windrush scandal and her implementation of the most Draconian, discriminatory immigration legislation ever witnessed in British political history.

And as a leading Windrush campaigner, of course, I'm minded to agree.

Then there are the disastrous effects of  Tory austerity, that have ripped the heart out of struggling communities and whose effects magnified racism and racial inequality in relation to socio-economic outcomes.

In any objective analysis, these would be powerful contextual factors for sure, but the political reality is, notwithstanding the deprivations of austerity and Brexit, Mrs May could have easily abandoned any serious efforts to highlight racial inequality without anybody blinking an eyelid.

There was no compulsion, no political, career or tactical advantage to be gained. This clearly wasn't part of any Machiavellian triangulation, she received tremendous flak from policing institutions and the civil service as a result, and therefore one can only conclude that Mays commitments to driving forward the issue of racial equality were based on principles rather than cynical politics.

Sir Simon Wolley and the PM. 

Let's be frank about it this was never going to be popular issue to prioritise, especially in a country that still has its head in the sand in relation to the reality of racism and racial equality. Nevertheless, she persevered, she maintained the course, like an old school Tory she delivered on what she promised. Above all key to the Unit’s success has been the notion that it and it’s Independent Advisory group headed by Sir Simon Woolley has been above Party politics.


The benefits of establishing the Race Disparity Unit and a comprehensive audit of racial inequality across government, highlighting disproportionality in employment, access, and delivery of goods and services, has comprehensively illustrated beyond any reasonable doubt, the most profound structural inequalities continue to be faced by millions of black and ethnic minority British citizens. Resulting in black and minority citizens, constituting third-class citizens in a supposed first-class democracy.

Tory candidates Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson.

As a direct consequence of Brexit we now face a country, more divided country than at any other time in our recent modern history, with economic uncertainty and political chaos reigning around us, it is vital that the work of the Unit remains as central part of the Prime Minister's office and continues to hold government to account, with the new mantra for race equality "explain or change".



With social discord, enmity and anger abroad in the nation, I would argue that the social strains between some communities are at breaking point. It is vital that this issue is not lost as Brexit continues to dominate the political agenda.

The Prime Minister must realise that the country right now is seething and straining under the dead weight of Brexit, dividing families, business, faith groups and communities
from Lands End to John O'Groats

With Boris Johnson set to become Prime Minister, there is a real and genuine worry within Black and minority communities, the good work delivered by Prime Minister Theresa May will be undone by Boris and his team.

It's difficult to forget how Boris Johnson and his cultural team led by Munira Mirza brutally slashed and ended all funding for Black History Month celebrations, in order to fund American Independence Day celebrations. He ended career development programs for black women employees at City Hall, massively reduced funding to the black voluntary sector,  dragged police and community relations into a toxic mire, both leading up to and in the immediate aftermath of the 2011 disturbances following the shooting of Mark Duggan.

In regards to controversial and suspicious black deaths in custody, they increased massively under Boris by a factor of 100%. Stop and search increased by 500% and whilst he spoke good game on tackling knife crime, all of his initiatives, the 1000 black men for 1000 black boys initiative, this and the much-hyped Mayor of London Fund were never, ever delivered. The countless other cosmetic project initiatives, such as the Garden Bridge, Kids Company, literally saw millions and millions of pounds, wasted on vanity projects,  providing mega spectacular failures on most of his eloquently delivered,  but largely empty, grandiose promises.

Now Munira Murza is back and will follow him into number 10 Downing Street. This could spell the death knell for the Race Disparity Unit itself and the broader effort to reduce growing levels of racial inequality and tackle increasing rates of hate crime right across the country.

It's a dangerous assumption that suggests that privileged Asian woman like Munira can speak on behalf of African and Caribbean communities with whom she has little or no connection and certainly has no mandate to speak on our behalf.

Her view on these matters are clear and give you a little insight into the lunacies that constitute her insanely blinkered view on race. She is the ultimate libertine.

A Spectator blog post published in 2017, entitled "Theresa May's phoney war is dangerous and the divisive." written in direct response to the establishment of a Race Audit Unit, Munira said the following:

'Everyone, including ethnic minorities, should be worried about the way in which anti-racism is becoming weaponised across the political spectrum. What passes for policy discussion in this area is now so heavily divorced from the facts and driven by ideology that there is barely any intelligent debate. Astonishingly, it seems that a lot of people in politics think it's a good idea to exaggerate the problem of racism.'

Furthermore, she went on to add, "It is possible to acknowledge that racism still exist without turning its waning influence into the pretext for a bogus moral crusade that pollutes the public space with false accusations based on selective evidence"

Which is why, no doubt racial inequality increased, that's right increased.... across the board in London during the eight years of Boris's time as Mayor.

This reality is objectively indicated by the volumes of in-depth research conducted by a range of research organisations such as the Runnymede Trust, Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trust for London, in addition to local authority research.

This tautological right-wing fallacy that "focusing on racism creates racism", is a consistently expressed piece of intellectual drivel that apparently constitutes an article of faith for one of Boris's top aides.

Munira wrote in a 2007 edition of Prospect Magazine, an article "Rethinking Race" intended to be a  "game-changer" in creating a new right-wing paradigm, on thinking about race equality,  the article sank like a lead balloon. The real problem with the article was its attempt to ignore the objective realities and lived experience of the majority of black British citizens. The article was a weakly constructed and an intellectually vacuous attempt at explaining away racial inequality, as all being in the minds of a few left-wing loonies or as a consequence of peoples poor personal life choices.

"At the start of the 21st-century, Britain is caught in a confusing reptile of anxiety. Of course, racism still exists, but things have improved to a point where many ethnic Britons do not experience it as a regular feature in their lives."

Munira now reaching full throttle, sallied forth with great gusto, further articulating her nonsensical and deeply troubling views on how racism actually works. Here's another great example of her intellectual confusion and moral turpitude on this issue;

"The more we seek to measure racism, the more it seems to grow. Teachers are now required to report incidents of racist abuse of children to local authorities, resulting in a massive increase of cases and reinforcing section we need an army of experts to manage race relations from cradle to grave"

To Boris Johnson, I say the British BAME community, including black conservatives I might add, and wider society, will not stay silent if the work of the Race Disparity Unit is in any way undermined, subject to the diminution, attrition or political marginalisation.  It is incredibly important in terms of both its role and remit. If anything the work of the unit needs to be expanded.

This Unit has educated more people about the realities of racial inequalities than any single effort previously made by any government. Having each government department detail all aspect of racial inequalities in a single website is a critical resource in ensuring that all citizens in Britain regardless of colour are treated equally.

The incredibly silly, right-wing trope often levelled at anything to do with race equality that says, a focus on a problem exacerbates the said problem, is the perverse analysis of those who enjoy a privileged lifestyle and politics without real responsibility.

What such patiently anti-intellectual analysis ignores is the undeniable historical fact that the more the country at large, moves to the right, the more racism increases. This irrefutable and obvious reality makes a mockery of her barely literate claim that antiracism creates racism. We've had nine years of Tory rule and in that time, rates of racial inequality have exploded,

So whilst I applaud this little island of  Race Disparity Unit excellence I do fully concede, it's surrounded by seas of mediocrity.

Nevertheless factual, objective information is critical to the fight against racial inequality and prejudice and should be protected as a critical resource.

Therefore, whoever is in power and regardless of their political persuasion this Unit must be retained, and race equality must be championed, because in the difficult and challenging time ahead, in all seriousness, the maintenance of the Queen's peace may well depend on it.

Lee jasper