The Conservative Party’s latest manifesto, with its bold promises of security and economic stability, appears to offer a hopeful vision for the future. However, a closer inspection reveals a stark reality: it is a document that fundamentally undermines the principles of equality and justice, particularly for Black, Asian, and minoritized ethnic communities in Britain.
The Illusion of Equality
The Conservatives’ “Inclusive Britain” plan purports to tackle unfair ethnic disparities, yet their actions tell a different story. The resignation of Samuel Kasumu, Boris Johnson’s adviser on race, amid the fallout from the controversial and deeply damaging Lord Tony Sewell race report, underscores a deep disconnect between the government’s rhetoric and the lived experiences of minority communities. The report’s disingenuous and politically motivated conclusion that the UK does not have a systemic racism problem was not just flawed; it was an outright denial of reality. By dismissing structural racism, the government is effectively silencing the voices of those who experience daily discrimination and inequality and gave the green light to an attack on race equality through its much-vaunted 'war on the woke'.
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Education and Employment: Missed Opportunities
The Conservative manifesto’s pledges on education and employment are woefully inadequate. While the Conservatives highlight the creation of apprenticeships and the reduction of taxes, these measures do not address the specific needs of our communities. The educational disruptions caused by COVID-19 have disproportionately affected all our communities, yet there is no targeted support to help us catch up. Instead, the Tories seem intent on offering soundbite solutions, such as the proposals for ‘national service,’ a move that fails to provide the necessary educational resources and opportunities for disadvantaged young people and their communities.
Health and Social Care: Neglect and Abandonment
The Conservatives’ commitment to the NHS Long Term Plan rings hollow in the face of their abandonment of a crucial pledge to ensure continuity of care for 75% of women from BAME backgrounds using maternity services. This neglect is a glaring omission that puts the health of minority women at risk. The manifesto’s vague promises lack the concrete solutions needed to address the significant health disparities faced by our communities, particularly in relation to maternal health and infant mortality. Moreover, the manifesto remains silent on Black mental health and Black youth unemployment, which is higher today than it was in 1981.
Immigration: A Draconian Approach
The Conservative Manifesto’s stance on immigration is not just harsh; it is brutally inhumane. The proposal to cap migration numbers, deport illegal migrants to Rwanda, and raise visa fees paints a grim picture. These policies are designed to maintain a hostile environment for immigrants and their families, fostering fear and division rather than inclusion and support. The promise to clear the asylum backlog in six months and end the use of hotels lacks a compassionate approach, focusing instead on stringent controls and deportations.
The Windrush, Grenfell, and Post Office scandals impacted Black, Asian, and settled migrants, treated with contempt that was frightening in its criminality and malicious intent. Our people were treated as third-class citizens and were subjected to the most horrendous racism; the post-Brexit anti-immigrant rhetoric from the Government and sections of the media has spawned huge growth in both race and religious hate crimes across the UK. As a result, racism in the UK is getting worse, not better.
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Economic Policies: Favoring the Few
Economic policies that favour tax cuts and support the private sector disproportionately benefit the wealthy, leaving our already severely economically disadvantaged communities buried under an avalanche of acute poverty and cost of living increases. While the promise to abolish national insurance and reduce taxes may sound appealing, it overlooks the long-term impact on public services that many of our communities rely on. The focus on reducing national insurance and cutting taxes fails to address the economic and social inequalities that persist in our society. In fact, we believe the reverse is true; these policies will increase and exacerbate racial inequality to unprecedented levels. The failure to address the Ethnic Pay Gap represents yet another gratuitous omission that indicates the Tories' failure to understand the realities of racism.
A Divisive Vision for Britain
The Conservative Party’s manifesto, with its emphasis on security and economic stability, fails to deliver on its promises of equality and justice. It is a document that prioritises the interests of the privileged while neglecting the needs of marginalized communities. The focus on controlling immigration, reducing public services, and denying the existence of structural racism is deeply troubling. Baroness Casey, Angelini and Lammy's reviews into systemic racism in policing and the criminal justice system are ignored. There is no mention of empowering communities to deliver public health solutions to serious violence. There is also nothing on the much-needed reform of the police, particularly shocking given the ongoing issues of misconduct and lack of accountability.
International Justice.
The manifesto says nothing of substance about the international debt owed to the UK by some of the world's poorest countries or about climate justice and reparation.
The Conservatives claim to be creating a truly inclusive 21st-century multiracial democracy, yet their manifesto says little of any substance on any of l the major issues facing our communities.
As Chair of Operation Black Vote, I urge all who believe in equality and social justice to scrutinise this manifesto carefully. We must demand real, substantive policies that address the systemic inequalities faced by our communities. Britain's future should be one where all its citizens, regardless of their background, have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. To achieve that, we need a concrete radical change agenda, and this isn't it.
David Weaver
Chair, Operation Black VoteStrategic Consultant
