Labour To Create New Codes Of Conduct And Training On Islamophobia And Anti-Black Racism
Labour is to create a new national committee and annual conference for its ethnic minority members (Alamy)
2 min read
Labour is planning to do more to tackle Islamophobia and anti-Black racism in the party with the creation of new codes of conduct and a training programme for members.
The party will also look to expand BAME representation with a new national committee and annual conference for its ethnic minority members.
The moves were agreed at yesterday’s National Executive Committee meeting as part of the culture change in Labour promised by Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner when they took over its leadership.
PoliticsHome understands the codes of conduct will be developed in consultation with organisations like the Runnymede Trust to formalise standards of behaviour and create a more consistent approach to complaints.
The new training courses on Islamophobia and anti-Black racism will be developed for elected representatives and staff, in particular those who handle complaints.
It follows on from the work already underway on anti-Semitism in response to the inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Labour is committed to tackling Islamophobia and anti-Black racism in our party and wider society and we were proud to adopt the APPG definition in 2019, something the Conservatives continue to refuse to do.
“The new codes and training courses will be designed and developed in a way that ensures they have the trust and confidence of Muslim and Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities.”
BAME members will automatically join a new national organisation “to guarantee effective participation, representation and voice to those who experience racism and are discriminated and excluded on the basis of race, colour and ethnicity”.
A new committee will also be created to oversee the organisation’s work, with branches in each of the English regions, Wales and Scotland.
Labour will also create a BAME conference, at which procedures and arrangements will mirror the existing women’s conferences, and it will be entitled to send up to two policy motions to the subsequent annual conference, which will be automatically be timetabled for debate.
Marsha de Cordova, shadow women and equalities secretary, said: “We are strengthening the role for our Black, Asian and ethnic minority members and trade unionists so that their voices and views are a more integral part of Labour’s decision-making and democracy.
“At a time when the Conservatives are trying to reheat Thatcherism and turn the clock back on equality, it is so important for Labour to fully represent our communities in all their diversity.”
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