Ukip’s immigration message needs to be confronted, not accommodated

On March 10^th, newspapers reported that since 2010 there has been a 49 percent rise in unemployment amongst youth from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities (BAME). This was compared to a 2 percent fall amongst young white people. The following day, in a published interview, Nigel Farage said that he would scrap race equality employment laws.

Farage’s hero is Enoch Powell. Unlike the master, the pupil cannot utilise explicitly racist language. Decades of struggle by BAME communities has resulted in protective legislation against racism. Despite overwhelming evidence of structural disadvantage on every social measure, Farage proposes to let discrimination rip.

UKIP is a Powellite party for the 21st-century. No less reactionary, but marking its racism with a delicacy of expression. Farage’s latest calculated pronouncement shows how UKIP longs for the days of “No blacks, no dogs, no Irish”.

Farage is able to keep expanding the reach of “sophisticated” racism because UKIP is being largely unchallenged on its home turf. The consensus amongst mainstream politicians is that UKIP’s core message on immigration has to be accommodated rather than confronted. Too few are the politicians like Diane Abbott and David Lammy who have called out UKIP’s aggressive and racist agenda.

Too often mainstream politicians are saying UKIP has a point. So does a knife. Promoting immigrants as a scapegoat is not only dangerous to the future of our community relations. It is also hugely damaging to the health of our economy which has benefited from the energy, innovation and loyalty of migrant workers.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere more generally has turned toxic. Austerity economics creates widespread hardship and the longing for someone to blame. Non-stop wars against Muslim countries has resulted in a siege been laid upon the Muslim community in Britain. Sadly in Britain today there is plenty of evidence of rising racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.

Chelsea football fans racism on the Paris Metro merely highlighted continuing problems of racism in football. The attacks upon the Jewish community in Stamford Hill are a threatening echo of the Paris murders. Islamophobia is not only respectable at the dinner party, but regularly results in attacks on mosques and Muslims on the streets.

It does not have to be this way. The Labour Party and the trade unions movement must join others to actively promote an antiracist culture. This Saturday, 21st March, is UN Anti-Racism day. There are demonstrations in Cardiff, Glasgow and London, which provide an opportunity to stand up and be counted against racism.

Last year’s event in London saw 10,000 people take part in a vibrant demonstration. It was representative of our diversity, including trade unions, people of faith and no faith, political parties, students, LGBT communities, artists, etc. This Saturday, the CWU is one of the many organisations sponsoring the London demonstration, which assembles at midday outside the BBC, in Portland Place with a rally in Trafalgar Square.

In the run-up to this year’s General Election this is an opportunity to demand that our politicians don’t give an inch to racism. We will be marching in line with those who fought slavery, segregation, fascism, apartheid, the colour bar, institutional racism, and every wretched expression of allied bigotry. It’s time to stop making the record and start making a difference. See you Saturday.

Billy Hayes is the General Secretary of the CWU