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By David Weaver, Chair of Operation Black Vote
As the Labour Party unveils its 2024 General Election manifesto, the promise of tackling racial inequality is put under the spotlight. While there are commendable commitments within the manifesto, there remain significant gaps and missed opportunities. At Operation Black Vote (OBV), we believe this manifesto has potential but falls short of what is required to address the systemic issues of racism in the UK.
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The 60th anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act in 2025 presents a unique opportunity for Labour to demonstrate its commitment to racial equality. This landmark legislation was the first to address racial discrimination in the UK. However, in the decades since, racial inequality has persisted, and in many areas, worsened. Next years’ anniversary should be more than a commemoration; it should be a catalyst for substantial and systemic change.
Labour’s manifesto demonstrates a clear commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion. The party aims to enhance the representation of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals across public services, including the NHS and police force. Additionally, Labour proposes mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting and measures to address career progression disparities and employment opportunities for Black, Asian and Minority ethnic people. These commitments are steps in the right direction, signalling Labour's intent to address some of the inequalities that plague our society.
Labour’s manifesto includes several policies designed to combat institutional racism. Proposals to address racial disparities in policing, sentencing, and incarceration rates are necessary and welcome. Targeted interventions to reduce the disproportionate detention rates of Black individuals under the Mental Health Act are also essential. However, the challenge lies in their implementation and ensuring these policies translate into real-world improvements.
Labour has committed to tackling racial disparities in education through policies aimed at reducing the attainment gap between Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students and their peers. Plans to ensure the national curriculum reflects the diversity of modern Britain, including the histories and contributions of Black and Asian communities, are crucial for building an inclusive future. However, these educational reforms must be part of a broader strategy to overhaul systemic racism in education.
Despite these commitments, there are significant doubts about Labour's ability to deliver on its promises. While Labour's manifesto addresses Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities broadly, it lacks targeted strategies for specific ethnic groups that face unique challenges. There is a need for more specific policies addressing the high rates of police stop and search, school exclusions, and mental health detentions among Black individuals. Additionally, the negative impact of the PREVENT anti-extremism agenda on assumed Muslim communities needs to be addressed. The manifesto is also silent on the issues faced by Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities, such as poor access to education and healthcare.
Although the manifesto addresses some health disparities, there is a need for comprehensive policies targeting specific serious issues. For example, the significantly higher maternal mortality rates among Black women and the need for culturally appropriated care and reducing stigma within these communities are areas that require urgent attention. Labour’s proposals could be strengthened by initiatives to support Black and Asian owned businesses and eliminating existing institutional and discriminatory practices that deny access to finance and markets. Specific policies to address disproportionately higher rates of homelessness and poor housing conditions among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals are also necessary.
As stated earlier, next year (2025) marks the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act, a pivotal piece of legislation in the fight against racial discrimination in the UK. This anniversary offers Labour a unique opportunity to reconsider its approach to racial equality. Labour should seize this moment to work with Black, Asian, and ethnic minority communities to co-produce a new, updated Race Relations Act. This new legislation should directly address institutional and other contemporary forms of racism and discrimination, reflect the lived experiences and needs of those most affected by racism, and include robust mechanisms for enforcement and accountability.
Operation Black Vote will use the anniversary to assess the importance of the 1965 Act in combating racial discrimination and its subsequent updates in 1968, 1976, and the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000). We will invite a national discussion and conduct a comprehensive review, presenting our findings and recommendations to the new government early next year. This is all the more poignant as the advent of the 1965 Act was in large part a response to the severe forms of discrimination that was being experienced by the Windrush Generation.
And that is why the Labour Party must urgently and with intense immediacy commit to ensuring the payment of compensations to those affected. The wrongs must be righted without further delay. The scandalous treatment and intentional delays are unacceptable, especially as families are losing loved ones every week.
Furthermore, it is crucial for the Labour Party to avoid the growing perception that more importance is being attached to other public scandals, without undermining the significance of those issues. Every affected victim of the Windrush scandal deserves justice and prompt action. It is the Labour Party’s and any government's duty to address all these matters with the seriousness they deserve and to put an end to what is, whether intentional or not, a manifestation of racism.
Given the deep scepticism surrounding political commitments, it is essential to establish reassurance, oversight, and accountability mechanisms to ensure Labour's race equality commitments are implemented effectively. The "Explain or Change" principle mandates that any organisation with identified racial disproportionality must either provide a valid explanation or implement changes to address the disparities. An Independent Race Equality Commission (IREC) should be established to monitor, evaluate, and report on race equality implementation across all sectors, making binding recommendations for policy and practice changes.
Policy and research experts should be embedded in the Cabinet Office to support policy development and ensure race equality considerations are integrated. Civil servants should be seconded to national black networks to foster partnerships and enhance policy relevance. Departments and large organizations should be required to publish annual reports on their progress in addressing racial disparities, ensuring data and reports are publicly available for transparency and accountability. Mandatory training for public sector employees and initiatives to increase BAME representation in leadership roles are also essential.
While the Labour Party's manifesto demonstrates a commitment to race equality, there are significant doubts about its ability to deliver on these promises. By integrating the additional recommendations outlined above, leveraging the 2025 anniversary of the Race Relations Act, and implementing robust reassurance mechanisms, Labour can develop a more comprehensive and effective strategy to tackle racism and promote race equality in the UK. OBV remains committed to driving this new approach and ensuring meaningful progress in the fight against racial inequality.
In conclusion, while Labour's manifesto signals an intent to address racial inequality, the absence of a comprehensive Race Relations Act in their plans is for many, a serious and significant omission. The 60th anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act presents an unparalleled opportunity for Labour, if elected to Government, to demonstrate a genuine commitment to systemic change. By working collaboratively with Black, Asian, and ethnic minority communities to co-produce a new, robust Race Relations Act and ensuring strong oversight and accountability mechanisms, Labour (and if not elected, the Conservatives) can move beyond promises and take concrete steps toward a more equitable and inclusive society. OBV stands ready to support and drive these necessary reforms, ensuring that the vision of a truly multi-racial democracy, which understands that racism is quintessentially, a violation of human rights, becomes a reality.
