7 OTHER ACTION TO ENSURE LABOUR IS A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR MEMBERS OF ALL COMMUNITIES
I explained earlier why the trigger of antisemitism notwithstanding, I believed that it was right that my terms of reference embrace all forms of racism. I also explained that it is not enough to avoid being clearly, expressly or deliberately racist in the Labour Party if anyone feels excluded from their instinctive political home. That is why the idea of ensuring " Labour is a welcoming environment for members of all communities " constitutes the fundamental underpinning of my task. The journey of this Inquiry has reinforced the importance of this, not just in principle, but sadly in practice as well.
I believe it right, natural and wholly positive for the Labour Movement, that so many new-comers to Britain, their children and grandchildren have gravitated to the party of social justice since its origins and inception. There is nothing inherently suspect about this tendency, and it should be welcomed and positively encouraged by all in the Party.
I am sorry to report that " a welcoming environment " has not been the overwhelming experience of many BAME members, including those from Afro-Caribbean, Muslim and Sikh communities in particular. I heard too many stories( from across the country) of members who felt that they were " good enough to deliver votes and leaflets " but not for staff or leadership positions within the Party or to be candidates for public office save( and often not even then) where their own ethnic community provides the majority of the electorate. This kind of testimony was far too common and consistent to be a complete misunderstanding and I do not want to see members of any communities leaving the Party to seek engagement and representation elsewhere.
" Language Skills "
An Afro-Caribbean woman of obvious intelligence, articulacy and experience described how she had been told that her " language skills " were insufficient for her to be put forward for election. Her language skills and advocacy were in fact excellent( at least to my ears). Indeed I have little doubt that English was probably her first language. Nonetheless, she had an accent, as we all do, whether shaped in part by our class, ethnic, national or regional background, or any combination of all of the above. So her experience was of direct racism and this has been experienced by a number of others, including of South Asian origin.
Further, if there really are problems within communities in relation to members who lack sufficient English language literacy or speaking skills adequately to participate at any particular level, surely fellow Party members or the Party more formally should seek to provide a way to help in the attainment of such proficiency. To exclude people from any aspect of life, rather than offering a helping hand in such circumstances, may be acceptable in other political parties but it is wholly unworthy of Labour.
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