ISSUE 240

Press Release

London, August 24, 2006 – Operation Black Vote (OBV) today condemned a new attack on multiculturalism by Government as Ruth Kelly, Communities Secretary, launched the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, which was announced by Tony Blair in the wake of the July 7 London bombings.

The delayed launch of the commission - which had been expected to have published its findings by now - comes two weeks after an alleged terror plot to blow up airliners had been thwarted.

In her statement this morning, the Secretary of State while attacking multiculturalism and segregation as enemies of integration and cohesion, failed once to mention the underlying roots of inequality, discrimination and racism that many Muslim and BME communities face.

Simon Woolley, OBV Director said: Any progress made to bring all communities together and tackle all religious and political extremism in the UK is to be welcome. However, the Minister’s statement this morning dangerously pre-empts the Commission’s investigations and findings in saying there was no longer ‘near-uniform consensus on the value of multiculturalism’. Furthermore, at no point does she state that the terms of reference of the Commission will look at the underlying issues of inequality, discrimination and racism in African, Asian and Caribbean communities.

Ashok Viswanathan, OBV Assistant Director said: Any snapshot of the UK in the 21st century that disregards the gross inequality and disadvantage Muslim communities face will only exacerbate tensions between communities and increase disadvantage. In not facing up to the reality what it means to be Asian or Muslim, the Commission is setting itself up to fail and lend succor to scaremongering tabloid headlines, racists and the BNP.

Notes to the editor:

Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign.

The term ‘Black’ is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities.

Source: Operation Black Vote