Labour councillors claim ‘racism’ is holding them back
Alarming report tells of ‘toxic culture’ within Birmingham’s ruling group
BIRMINGHAM’S Labour leadership are facing calls to act after several ethnic minority councillors claimed a ‘toxic culture’ of discrimination and racism was holding them back.
They also claimed they feared speaking up for risk of ‘consequences’.
The comments were made in an internal Labour Group report, leaked to the Post.
The survey and report was coordinated by Cllr Saima Suleman, the group’s BAME officer, who described the comments made by colleagues as ‘deeply concerning’.
Councillors also claimed some neighbourhoods with a majority Asian or black population were poorly treated, received unequal support and did not benefit from ‘vanity projects’ like the Commonwealth Games.
Cllr Suleman was so concerned that she shared the report with the Labour Party’s regional director Charlotte Walker this summer in a face-to-face meeting, the report says.
The regional director told her she would discuss the matter with colleagues within the Labour Party and described it as being of “the utmost importance” and would be taken “very seriously.”
However, it is understood the findings were not shared with the local leadership until last week, along with all Labour members.
Councillors of black, Asian or other minority ethnic heritage were asked to air any concerns in an anonymous survey.
In her resulting report, Cllr Suleman details the responses from 17 of the city’s ethnic minority councillors, citing significant criticism.
One senior councillor said the claims needed to be fully investigated in an independent inquiry. Among the claims, councillors who responded spoke of:
■ ‘Racism and smearing’ of other councillors of colour that went ‘unchallenged’.
■ The leadership ‘not taking racism and discrimination seriously’ or realising there is a problem.
■ ‘There is not a level playing field’.
■ ‘Keeping BAME members in their place, which is at the bottom’.
■ ‘We need to make it safe for people to speak up, currently I do not feel this is the case... I feel that if I speak up there will be consequences.’
■ The council organisation is ‘institutionally racist’.
■ ‘BAME members are condemned for standing up for positions’.
■ ‘The morale in the group is just awful’.
Some of the claims related to a bitter leadership battle in May which saw Cllr Waseem Zaffar attempt to replace leader Ian Ward, only failing to do so by a single vote. It was cited by multiple respondents in the survey as a low point.
One said the campaign had “certainly made me think about the culture”. Another councillor said the ‘public attacks’ on Cllr Zaffar’s decision to stand for leadership, which would have made him the first person of colour, first Muslim and first Asian leader of the city, were ‘heartbreaking’.
“What message was that sending to us and the residents... you’re BAME, how dare you think you are worthy of applying for this position?” They added it had been a ‘triggering experience’ bringing up memories of racism.
Another said: “What’s the point of being a BAME Councillor when I can’t even speak about issues that are important and affecting the diverse communities I represent? “We need to be listened to, not shouted down.”
Of the councillors who took part in the survey – representing about half of the Labour group’s representatives from ethnic minority backgrounds – nearly all said they felt ‘very uncomfortable’ or ‘quite uncomfortable’ ‘raising issues around race.’ One said the fallout from the leadership election
What’s the point of being a BAME councillor when I can’t even speak about issues that are important and affecting the diverse communities I represent?
had left the group ‘extremely divided.’
In a statement, the Labour leader Cllr Ward said he welcomed the report and said he had been ‘keen’ for the survey to be undertaken as it was an ‘appraisal of the issues we face in Birmingham.’
“Significant work has been undertaken by the wider council, including publishing a race pay audit, and our ‘everyone’s battle, everyone’s business’ strategy recognises the deeplying issues that we face and is strengthening the important process of making the council more representative of the city. But there is clearly even more to do.” He added: “Working together we will continue to act on these findings. I’d like to thank colleagues for contributing.”