"The Forde Report is a damning document which highlights a deeply toxic and unpleasant culture in the Labour Party that allows racism from senior officials to go unchallenged." - Taj Ali
Taj Ali our host was joined by broadcasters and writers and journalists Perry Blankson, Ayaz Rafik, Hamza Ali Shah, Rachel Shabi, Afroze Zaidi, Beauty Dhlamin, Labour councillor and anti-racism equalities campaigner Shaista Aziz, and author and broadcaster Genelle Aldred
Ahaed of the debate, Genelle said "The Forde report demands a response. Many Black people in the UK say they now feel politically homeless, especially those who have been life-long Labour supporters. The lack of formal response, action and dialogue around the issues highlighted in 2020 sends a message that speaks to resistance to equality and change, or worse, a low value placed on Black Labour voters and our communities."
Shaista said " The Forde Report shows again why the Labour Party must tackle racism in all its forms and across the Labour movement. For the Labour Party to be a progressive and democratic space - it must be an anti-racist party willing to tackle systems of oppression.
Before the debate started, Samantha Asumadu read out a statement from Labour Black Women's Network:
Labour Black Women have submitted complaints to Labour HQ over the past ten years which have never been addressed - repeated emails were ignored. Full details were subsequently submitted to The Forde Inquiry and may well form part of the shocking revelations the Report alludes to.
Complaints have come from professional women who have been regular Constituency Labour Party (CLP) members as well as officers and local and national candidates for Councils, the London Assembly and Parliament as well as members who are also local council employees and union activists.
Sample summary of complaints
1. Blocking of BAME candidates for local Council Election, regional London Assembly Selection and National PPC selection *[complaints sent to Labour HQ in between 2010-2019 remain unanswered]
2. Culture of bullying and harassment in local CLP – members being systematically driven out of the Local Party having been constantly undermined
3. Culture of racially motivated bullying and harassment of Labour activists who have also been union activists in some of London's Labour Councils
4. Targeting/blacklisting of Union Activists and BAME council employees who have called out unequal treatment and discriminatory practices
5. BAME Employees disproportionately faced redundancy during successive Labour Council restructures
6. Disproportionate number of Tribunal cases being brought against Labour councils by BAME employees
