“Theresa May has done nothing but exacerbate the disparity problem” – Dawn Butler MP

Dawn Butler MP,
Shadow Secretary for Women and Equalities, commenting on the release of the
government’s Race Disparity Audit, said:

 

“The real ‘uncomfortable truth’ is
that Theresa May knew that cuts to services would disproportionately affect
groups with protected characteristics. So much so that she wrote to the then
Prime Minister in 2010 warning that ‘there are real risks’ that women, ethnic
minorities, disabled people and older people will be ‘disproportionately
affected’ by proposed cuts.

 

“But as Prime Minister, knowing full
well the damage that would be caused by the Conservative cuts, Theresa May has
done nothing but exacerbate the problem. Far from tackling burning injustices,
she has added fuel to the fire.

 

“If the Prime Minister really feels
so strongly about this issue, why did she sit on this report and refuse to
share it with parliament – despite Labour asking her to publish it three months
ago? This Government’s report is not enough. What we need are solutions and a
sustained effort to really tackle burning injustices.“

 

Ends

 

Notes to editors

 

At the last election, Labour issued
a race and faith manifesto to tackle problems of discrimination. Policy
proposals included:

• introducing equal pay audit requirements
  on large employers

• launching an inquiry into
  names-based discrimination and consider rolling out name-blind recruitment
  practices if necessary

• implementing the Parker Review
  recommendations to increase ethnic diversity on the boards of Britain’s largest
  companies

• enhancing the powers and functions
  of the Equality and Human Rights Commission