‘Government at fault over ruling’
ANTI-RACISM GROUP SAYS BAME PEOPLE SCAPEGOATS
AN anti-racism group says the blame for Leicester’s local lockdown lies with central government and not black, Asian and minority ethnic (Bame) communities, whom it says are being stigmatised and scapegoated as a result of rules being extended in the city and surrounding areas.
Leicester Stand Up To Racism has received backing from Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe, local politicians, religious leaders, community figures and union representatives since putting out an open letter for the public to sign, urging people not to pay attention to those it says are using the local lockdown to “spread their foul racist ideas”.
The letter reads: “Leicester people stand together and place responsibility for this crisis, both in Leicester and nationally, at the door of central government.
“We recognise a vocal minority is seeking to blame, stigmatise and scapegoat certain communities in Leicester for the increase in Covid19 cases, but we know they are twisting the situation to spread their foul racist ideas.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week said there were “particular problems in Leicester implementing advice and getting people to understand what they were required to do”.
The anti-racism group – a branch of the national Stand Up To Racism movement – also says in taking 11 days to announce a local lockdown, the government “put more lives at risk and delayed sharing vital information with local leaders” and adds Britain’s high death rate was a “direct result of the government’s failure to protect our communities”.
The government’s official death toll stood at 44,236 yesterday.
The letter adds: “There has been a catalogue of failures in providing clear guidance, supplying PPE to all key workers, protecting care homes and setting up a system of test and trace. These failures have been compounded by a decade of cuts and privatisation.”
Public Health England (PHE) has disputed the claim data was not shared. It said: “From the outset, PHE has regularly and consistently shared all of the data that we hold.”
The group’s statement also says Bame communities have “suffered disproportionately during this crisis and there is widespread concern they will take the brunt of the spike in infections”.
They urge others to add their names to the letter, which calls for a public inquiry into the “excessively high” number of Bame deaths resulting from the virus.
Ms Webbe said: “Leicester’s diversity is our strength. I wholeheartedly reject those seeking to blame our residents and our different communities for this outbreak.”
A government spokesman said: “It is clear Covid-19 has disproportionately impacted certain groups, including those from Bame backgrounds, and the Equalities Minister is taking forward vital work to tackle these disparities and protect our most vulnerable.”