Whites run all professions? Hardly!

One wonders why people such as Dr Pat Bidmead, who says a report is wrong to claim Britain is not a racist country (MetroTalk, Wed), wish to denigrate the successes of black and Asian communities.

Dr Bidmead asks why professions remain almost exclusively white.

Well, if Dr Bidmead visited London’s East Ham they would see that at least 80 per cent of the opticians are of Asian heritage, while my local surgery, St Bart’s on Barking Road, has five doctors, none of whom are European. Of the four nurses there, three are Asian and only one is white

nBritish. Many of the solicitors and accountants in the neighbourhood are Asian or African too.

And Newham in East London is also a success story when it comes to racial diversity, with Newham Sixth Form College sending many students to Oxbridge.

Is Dr Bidmead’s prejudice because they live in a predominantly white community? N Millar, via email

Dr Bidmead’s email intrigued my family. My partner is part of an 11-strong medical team, of whom nine are black – and this is not unusual in

nthe medical profession. My niece is one of seven in a social care team – and the only white person. Her manager and deputy are both BAME. TV is awash with BAME presenters and actors.

As part of a very mixed family – Caribbean, English, Scottish, Japanese, Brazilian, Welsh and Canadian, with skin tones of every hue and jobs of every description – we think the flag needs to be flown for hard-working people achieving regardless of colour, creed and religion. Enough of labels.

Mandy, North London