The Green Party today set out a manifesto to improve the economic, social and cultural lives of Britain’s black and minority ethnic (BME) population.
Throughout the 2010 election campaign, the Greens have emphasised the need for a range of policies that will promote cultural harmony and racial diversity. (1)
Included in the BME manifesto are pledges to:
• Reform British nationality law to ensure an even-handed treatment of all people wishing to live in the UK - removing the current systemic bias that favours white non-residents over black.
• Undertaking a thorough review of UK immigration practices and the UK Immigration Service to ensure that racist features are removed and immigration officers receive sufficient suitable training. We will encourage greater ethnic minority participation in the Immigration Service.
• Limit the information on the national DNA database, which disproportionately effects members of the BME communities given the higher stop and search rates for Black and Asian people.
• Making British nationality automatically available to all children, prior to their 18th birthday, of British nationals born overseas but now normally resident in the UK.
A Green Party spokesperson said “Britain’s diversity is one of the strengths of our society, but still more can be done to foster equality and redress the imbalances that continue to hold back BME citizens in some areas."
“Green MPs will always fight for equality, because equality and social justice are integral parts of what it means to be Green.”
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