BME jobless figures ‘shoot up’
Unemployment among BME workers has increased at more than twice the speed of the rate for white workers, a new study suggests.
The TUC said its analysis of official statistics also showed that one in ten BME (black and minority ethnic) women are now unemployed.
The BME unemployment rate "shot up" from 5.8 per cent to 9.5 per cent between the final quarter of 2019 and the same time last year, said the report.
Over the same period, the unemployment rate for white workers rose from 3.4 per cent to 4.5 per cent, according to the study.
The new analysis comes as unions, charities and campaigners have signed a joint statement calling on the Prime Minister to take action to end structural racism and inequality.
TUC general secretary Frances O'grady said: "This pandemic has held up a mirror to the structural racism in our labour market and in wider society.”
Shamima Begum cannot return to the UK to pursue an appeal against the removal of her British citizenship, the Supreme Court has ruled.
Ms Begum was 15 years old whensheandtwootherschoolgirlsfromeastlondontravelled to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State group (IS) in February 2015.
Her British citizenship was revoked on national security grounds shortly after she was found, nine months pregnant, inasyrianrefugeecampinfebruary, 2019.
Ms Begum, now 21, is challenging the Home Office's decision to remove her British citizenship and wants to be allowed to return to the UK to pursue her appeal.
In July last year, the Court of Appealruledthat"theonlyway inwhichshecanhaveafairand effective appeal is to be permitted to come into the United
Kingdomtopursueherappeal".
The Home Office challenged that decision at the Supreme Court in November, arguing that allowing her to return to the UK "would create significant national security risks" and expose the public to "an increased risk of terrorism".
On Friday, the UK'S highest court ruled that Ms Begum should not be granted leave to enter the UK to pursue her appeal against the deprivation of her British citizenship.
Announcing the decision, Lord Reed said: "The Supreme Court unanimously allows all ofthehomesecretary'sappeals and dismisses Ms Begum's cross-appeal."
Downing Street said it was "pleased" with the decision. A spokesman for the Prime Minister told reporters: "Decisions to deprive individuals of their citizenship are not taken lightly.we'llalwaysensurethesafety and security of the UK, and will not allow anything to jeopardise this."
Ms Patel's predecessor, Sajid Javid, who took the decision to revoke Ms Begum's citizenship, said: "I strongly welcome the Supreme Court's ruling on Shamima Begum."there are no simple solutions to this situation, but any restrictions of rights and freedoms faced by this individual are a direct consequenceoftheextremeactions that she and others have taken, in violation of Government guidance and common morality."
In a joint statement, Rights andsecurityinternational(rsi)
and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) called the Supreme Court's decision "disappointing".
The two NGOS expressed "significant concerns about the judgment'spotentialimpacton the right to a fair trial and the Government'sabilitytodeprive individuals of their citizenship without adequate safeguards".
Sarah St Vincent, executive director of RSI, said: "For too long, the UK Government has refused to see Ms Begum for what she is – not a 'bride', but a victim of ongoing inhuman
and degrading treatment, and a potential victim of child trafficking."
Conservative MP and former Brexit Secretary David Davis tweeted:"disappointingverdict in the Supreme Court. Regardless of what individuals like Shamima Begum have done, the UK cannot simply wash our hands of Brits in the Syrian camps.
"The correct approach would be to return them to the UK to answer for their crimes."
Thousands of homes could be heated by waste from their local sewage works as part of the UK’S first "poo power" scheme.
Thames Water says its project has the potential to provide clean, green heating to more than 2,000 new homes in the Cambridge Road Estate in Kingston.
It is expected to become a model for similar schemes elsewhere in the UK in a bid to reduce millions of tonnes of carbon emissions, the company says.
The Government and Greater London Authority have funded feasibility studies and design work for the scheme over the past two years.
An application has now been made to the government for capital funding, with the result expected to be formally announced in March.
Sarah Bentley, chief executive officer at Thames Water, said: ""Renewable heat from our sewer network is a fantastic resource, so it's vital we unlock the full potential of 'poo power'.”