What we learned from Boris Johnson's racism report and its most divisive findings
| Published date | 31 March 2021 |
| Date | 31 March 2021 |
| Publication title | Daily Mirror, The: Web Edition Articles (London, England) |
As Black Lives Matter protests raged around the world the Prime Minister promised a review of racial discrimination and disadvantage in Britain.
But expectations for the report were lowered for some when he appointed a chairman who had previously claimed the existence of institutional racism was “flimsy”.
Even the method of publication was divisive -with cherry-picked lines drip fed out overnight, and a strict ban on approaching interest groups for comment.
But what’s actually in the report -what does it recommend, and which parts are particularly contentious
There’s a lot to unpack, but here are the main points.
Why the report was always going to be contentious
The early stages of setting up the commission drew controversy after Mr Johnson gave Munira Mirza, head of the Number 10 policy unit, a major role in its creation.
And a race equality think tank questioned the suitability of Tony Sewell as chairman of the commission -after he previously claimed evidence of the existence of institutional racism was "flimsy".
Dr Sewell worked with Boris Johnson in 2013 when he led the then London mayor's education inquiry into the capital's schools.
Writing in Prospect magazine in 2010, Dr Sewell, an international education consultant, said: "Much of the supposed evidence of institutional racism is flimsy."
The way the government released the report also invited scepticism from campaigners.
Cherry-picked lines were briefed to selected journalists overnight ahead of its 11.30am publication.
And they were given strict orders not to seek any reaction.
Tony Sewell was made available for broadcast interviews -but only before the report was published, so it was impossible for journalists to ask informed questions about the report itself.
Considering the report was prepared -at least in part -in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the people who prepared it are also predominantly of an older generation.
Only one member of the panel -Mercy Muroki, a researcher for the centre-right think tank the Centre for Social Justice -is under 30.
What the report found -and what it recommended
The report found no evidence that Britain is "institutionally racist" -and criticised campaigners who they say use the term too loosely.
The report admitted Britain is not yet a "post-racial society" but added: "We no longer see a Britain where the system is deliberately rigged against ethnic minorities".
Instead the report claimed "most of the disparities we examined... often do not have their origins in racism".
And the report criticised...
To continue reading
Request your trial