Racism is a serious concern in modern society. It causes all sorts of problems and tensions from abusive language, loss of job and other opportunities to physical violence and even murder. This is why it should be stamped out and extremist political parties, such as the BNP, should be shown for what they are.
Some people believe you can only be affected by racism if you are black or Muslim but that white people or Christians can’t be as they are already so privileged. This is wholly wrong.
Anyone from any background is equally vulnerable which is why I am shocked by the values of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission are now investigating the Labour Party for charging most visitors to a Labour Conference £40 – but Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic visitors only £30.
How can Labour and their elected MPs and Councillors justify their BAME members paying only £30 but their white members paying a third more? It is more than a little condescending to ethnic minorities to say that they cannot afford to make the same choices as everyone else so have to be put in a special segregated category.
If Labour were to regain control of the means of production, distribution and exchange then what would it mean if you went for a pint in the pub or bought your weekly shopping – would they vary the prices according to whom they gave favour? Great perhaps if you agree with the ideological fringes but not so good for the 99%. If Jeremy Corbyn were to become Prime Minister we already know he’s going to tax everyone far more and increase the cost of living but this move by the Labour Party is sinister.
The problem with Labour’s leadership does not stop at this form of racism – they have a massive problem with anti-Semitism as well. I have written about Labour’s anti-Semitism problem before but it is not just objective outside observers of the Labour Party who are concerned by this but a Labour Council leader is too.
The Labour leader of Brighton Council has now threatened to ban the Labour Party from having another conference there after high levels of anti-Semitism was reported following their autumn conference. Labour delegates reportedly cheered when threats were made to expel Jewish groups from Labour and a speaker at an event promoted debate on holocaust denial. It seems shocking that, in the 21st century, a major political party in the United Kingdom could accept members holding such abhorrent views.
Last Saturday, we commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. This is an important opportunity to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and make sure they are never forgotten.
I am delighted to have just been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Transport Department. The position involves working with and supporting Transport Ministers in their Parliamentary business, attending debates and acting as a liaison between backbench MPs and the Department. It will also mean that I have a better opportunity to see the workings of government whilst still being outside of it.
There are so many transport related concerns, from the obvious such as our roads and railways but also how concerns about drones and are managed and even laser pens which are sometimes pointed at aeroplanes and helicopters.
Transport is one of the topics most often raised with me by residents in Bolton West & Atherton and so I’m looking forward to working alongside Ministers to ensure that Bolton and the rest of the UK has a resilient transport network.