‘Just give them positive action, make them employ black people’

Foundations of diversity and inclusion

Race, racial identity and the inclusion of BAME citizens receives no mention within the current LCR Positions Statement and the disparities for BAME residents have not changed, across all these foundations, in almost 30 years. The exception is where positive action programmes have been operating, we have seen a direct correlation in BAME employment outcomes according to LCR’s own evidence. It can only be concluded that equal opportunities legislation is no more effective for BAME citizens than it is for women.

The Factors affecting BAME communities are exacerbated for BAME women across all sectors. For example, the pharmaceutical sector, identified as a potential growth area in the LCR CA statement, continues to test 80% of its drugs exclusively on men or doesn’t test for gender differentials, despite women making 90% of all health care decisions in families. Of a 50% female workforce in the pharmaceutical sector only 10% make it into leadership positions. However, for BAME women the sectors advances are restricted further. BAME women are 50% less likely to receive pain relief than white women or men and 25% more likely to die in childbirth despite medical and technological advances.

The 2015 Joesph Rowntree report shows how for some BAME people Liverpool is the 3rd worst place in the country for employment. We believe its recommendation that positive targets should be set and implemented should be adopted within the region. Although Liverpool was late entering the Slave Trade, by 1740 it had surpassed Bristol and London as the slave trading capital of Britain. In 2010 UK tax payers were still paying off government debt borrowed to pay millions in compensation to slave owners 200 years ago. The descendants of slaves have not yet received any compensation.

LCR still aspires to grow its population and parts of the region are particularly equipped and experienced at welcoming new arrivals and harnessing their potential. Throughout history those places and countries that have recognised the benefits of diversity have also enjoyed remarkable levels of enterprise and growth. For example, Barcelona in the 1990’s had a falling and ageing population and needed to grow. It set out to become the most cosmopolitan city in Europe and enjoyed significant population and economic growth as a result of this reframing of what might otherwise be called immigration or people who could be called migrants. Language is important.

We ask LCR to take a proactive approach to population growth, building on the successful World In One City Campaign of 10 years ago, to vision becoming the most cosmopolitan city in the UK, supported by the policies and actions that deliver that vision with the benefits for import/export, international trade, tourism as well as population growth that flow from it.