Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, responding to ONS statistics on Covid-19 deaths by ethnic group, said:
“Across the globe, racial injustice has always had a devastating impact on society, and coronavirus has demonstrated the deadly consequences of when racial inequalities go unchecked.
“These findings are yet more evidence of the need for urgent action on this issue. But instead, we have seen denial and delay from the Government.”
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, responding to the publication of the Public Health England (PHE) report looking at the impact of Covid-19 on BAME groups, said:
“This report provides even more evidence of the structural and racial inequalities which have led to the Covid-19 pandemic hitting BAME communities across the UK so very hard. And these recommendations should never have been blocked in the first place.
“Thousands of people and organisations have made it clear that urgent, collaborative and decisive action is needed. The Government cannot make the same mistakes if there is a second wave of coronavirus.”
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, responding to the government’s announcement about establishing a “new cross-governmental commission to look at what’s going on with BAME groups”, said:
“We are in the midst of a global health pandemic that has sharply exposed deep structural inequalities which have long since needed urgently addressing.
“That the Prime Minister now says he wants to ‘change the narrative… So we stop the sense of victimisation and discrimination’ is condescending and designed to let himself and his Government off the hook.
“Boris Johnson’s Government must acknowledge and act on the racial injustices and should now move to deliver a race equality strategy that sets out plans to reduce the structural inequalities and institutional racism faced by ethnic minorities in Britain.”
Marsha De Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, responding to reports that the government failed to publish a separate PHE review into BAME deaths from Covid, which provided recommendations, said:
“It is a scandal that the Government appears to have blocked a review that included recommendations that could help save Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic lives during this crisis.
“The Government’s failure to publish this review is yet another in a litany of failures to support BAME communities during Covid-19.
“The Government must now urgently publish these recommendations in full and provide an explanation for its lack of transparency on this review. Black Lives Matter is more than just a slogan, we cannot wait any longer for action to tackle racial injustic
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, responding to ONS report on the social impact of Covid-19 on disabled people, said:
“This report once again shows the devastating impact that Covid-19 is having on disabled people’s lives.
“It is deeply concerning that disabled people are significantly more likely to have concerns about access to food and medication as well as their non-Covid related health care needs.
“As lockdown eases, the Government must urgently act to ensure that its coronavirus recovery policies are inclusive for disabled people, so that no one is left behind.”
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, commenting on the new report from the IFS on Covid-19 exacerbating existing inequalities, said:
“This report provides further evidence of the wide range of inequalities exposed by the coronavirus crisis.
“Alongside the risks of widening inequalities in education, employment and healthcare, the report highlights the concerning impact on pre-existing disparities in age, ethnicity and gender.
“Without urgent action, there is a real danger that the crisis will have a lasting impact on equality in the UK.
“The government must act now to address these inequalities, including immediately publishing recommendations from the Race Disparity Unit.”
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, commenting on the news that the EHRC will lead an inquiry into the impact of coronavirus on ethnic minorities, said:
“Labour welcomes the EHRC’s inquiry to identify actions to address racial injustices in our society.
“The coronavirus crisis has shone a light on these inequalities, but the Government has consistently failed to take action to save BAME people’s lives during this pandemic.
“Now is the time to take steps to tackle systemic racism, discrimination and injustice in Britain.
“The Government must take action based on the findings and recommendations of the EHRC’s inquiry”.
The intervention comes on the back of growing evidence that people from BAME communities are disproportionately affected by Covid-19.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Starmer and Lawrence have called on the Government to adopt NHS England’s advice to “risk assess staff from BAME backgrounds, along with others who may be at higher risk” for all employers.
While welcoming the Public Health England inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities, the letter calls for action to “be taken now to help protect BAME communities”, and warns “ministers were too slow at the early stages of this pandemic. It is important that the lessons are learnt.”
The letter follows the launch of Labour’s review into the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities, led by Doreen Lawrence and Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, Marsha De Cordova.
Full text of the letter from Keir Starmer and Doreen Lawrence to Boris Johnson:
