02 September 2005
A leading race-relations expert has called for high standards of political accountability following the London bombings amid threats of an extremist backlash.
Lord Herman Ouseley, former chair of the Commission for Racial Equality and author of an influential report following the 2001 race riots, told Public Finance that rising Islamophobia since July 'must be dealt with through positive action by communities and a great deal of transparency'.
Ouseley said it was important that national and local politicians make clear why they were making decisions involving ethnic minority groups to prevent a backlash from extremists such as the British National Party.
Ouseley urged councils, for example, to be 'clear and vocal' about decisions that they take in support of Muslim communities, particularly those involving public spending.
'The nature of decision-making is crucial across mixed communities. If you're not talking to all groups, you could undermine progress on cohesion,' he said.
'A white community, for example, may not understand why a family can't get a simple window break fixed in their vicinity at the same time that there may be a massive redevelopment project in an area largely populated by the black community.
'It is crucial that we avoid the situation that occurred in Burnley [after the 2001 riots] for example. People have to know why you're taking decisions and how.'
Police have reported rising 'race hate' crimes since July and Home Secretary Charles Clarke is preparing a new community cohesion 'action plan' for publication this autumn.
Sir Jeremy Beecham, the deputy chair of the Local Government Association, said the LGA would also publish new cohesion guidance for councils in November, which would 'factor in' responses to the London attacks, and continue to address deprivation problems for many ethnic minority groups.
Beecham said: 'We need to persuade the majority population in any community that by targeting the needs of deprived groups… these things are being done on a balanced basis.'
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