A new report published on a new Ethnicity Facts and Figures website has exposed huge levels of racial inequality in the UK, demonstrating considerable differences between the life outcomes of British ethnic minorities and white people.
The differences have prompted Theresa May to encourage institutions to “help ensure race is never a barrier.” Riiiight – we’re pretty sure Dave would have something to say in response.
The report found a significantly higher unemployment rate among black, Asian and minority ethnic people than white British adults and lower home ownership among Bangladeshis and black people.
It also showed that British white groups fall behind in some cases, with white British pupils on school meals less likely to reach the expected standard at Key Stage 2 than any other ethnic group and white teenagers more likely to be smokers than black teenagers.
The study broke down how people of different races are treated in areas like health, education, employment and the criminal justice system.
It also found stats including:
- Black Caribbean pupils were permanently excluded at three times the rate (0.29 per cent) of white British pupils (0.1 per cent)
- The unemployment rate for black, Asian and minority ethnic people (8 per cent) is nearly double that of white British adults (4.6 per cent), with a larger gap in the North (13.6 per cent) than the South (9 per cent)
- White people, Indians and Pakistanis are more likely to own their own home than Bangladeshis and black people
- White teenagers are four times more likely to be smokers than black teenagers
Chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission David Isaac said, “The findings of the race audit do not come as a shock to us. The Prime Minister should be applauded for laying out this information for all to see and we now need to use to the data to set the foundations for real change.
“The Government must tackle the significant disparities confirmed by the audit in order to address the entrenched inequality that is so prevalent in our society.”