Liberal Democrat Lynne Featherstone MP has today outlined a vision of how to tackle race inequality in the UK.

In a paper published by the Runnymede Trust, Featherstone criticizes the Government for poor management of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and calls for ‘Representative Action’ to tackle discrimination.

The Equalities Spokesperson also challenges the Government to tackle the over-representation of the black population on the DNA database and the disproportionate number of black men stopped and searched by the police.

In the context of the rise of the far-right, Featherstone argues that since 9/11 a “culture of fear’ has been created around the Muslim community which has been exploited by the BNP.

To help tackle inequality, Featherstone calls for the introduction of a ‘name blank’ application policy to remove bias in the process of deciding job applications.

She also calls for those discriminated against to be represented as a group by trade unions or the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Today’s paper includes critiques by academics Dr Clare Alexander and Dr Harry Goulbourne, and is the second in a series of essays to be written by senior politicians on race equality as part of the ‘Runnymede Platform’ series.

A paper by Conservative front bencher Dominic Grieve QC MP on Conservatism and community cohesion was published in January, and essays by senior Labour and SNP politicians will be published shortly.

Commenting on her paper, Lynne Featherstone said:

Equality is of paramount importance and I welcome the opportunity of launching ‘Race, Equality and the Liberal Democrats’. I would like to thank Runnymede Trust for providing this opportunity.

Today’s paper is the second in the series following the publication of ‘Conservatism and Community Cohesion’ by senior Conservative Dominic Grieve QC MP. Essays by the Labour Party and the SNP will be published shortly.

From a press release

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5. Mark Willis

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6. Runnymede

   Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone on race equality http://tinyurl.com/yke4k9p (via @libcon)

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