Boris Johnson’s racial disparities commission ‘to recommend against using BAME term’

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The commision was formed in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests last year
AFP via Getty Images
Leah Sinclair29 March 2021

Boris Johnson’s racial disparities commission is reportedly poised to recommend that the term BAME should no longer be used by public bodies and companies.

The Telegraph reported that scrapping the acronym - standing for black, Asian and minority ethnic - is a key proposal in a report to be published this week by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.

The newspaper cited a source saying the term had become "unhelpful and redundant", with the blanket term potentially masking the lived experiences of individual groups.

The source also claimed that more companies increasing the number of BAME staff they employ feel there is no need to tackle other systemic racial issues.

The commission’s report also includes research said to show that the term "ethnic minority" is more popular with people from ethnic minorities than BAME or "people of colour".

A source familiar with the report said: "The commission has taken evidence from across the UK, examined the data to create a rigorous fact-based report on what is often a highly charged debate.

“It was important for commissioners to produce findings based on data and evidence to try and take down the temperature on this issue and have a debate based on the facts, not driven by ideology."

The source added that the report will argue that "the differences between racial groups living in Britain today are now as important as the commonalities.”

It’s also expected to argue that using the term alone can hide major disparities between ethnic groups as well as people within the same ethnic group.

The report is said to propose a more multifaceted approach that would put greater focus on monitoring the outcomes of individual ethnic groups.

The prime minister announced the commission in June in response to a wave of Black Lives Matter protests, following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in the US.

The commission is comprised of representatives from the fields of science, education, broadcasting, economics, medicine, policing and community organising.

Mr Johnson said he hoped a "positive agenda for change" would come from the commission when he announced its formation in a bid to examine some of the issues highlighted by the protests.

Dr Tony Sewell was later appointed chairman of the commission, a choice attracting criticism as the charity leader previously said evidence of the existence of institutional racism was "flimsy".

At the time, Mr Sewell said: “I have spent my entire career in education striving to help all students achieve their full potential.

“I know however that inequality exists, and I am committed to working with my fellow commissioners to understand why.

“Together we will set out recommendations for action across Government, public bodies and the private sector, and will seek to inform a national conversation about race, led by the evidence.”

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