CRITICS ANGRY AT TREVOR PHILLIPS APPOINTMENT AT CEHR
(8 September 2006)

Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, today announced the appointment of Trevor Phillips as the Chair of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR). His appointment was immediately criticised by representatives of ethnic minority groups. The Mayor of London's Policy Director for Equalities, Lee Jasper, said today: ''Trevor Phillips’ attacks on multiculturalism do not reflect the reality of life in London and are in no way supported by a majority of black Londoners."

"It is reported that Trevor Phillips will be appointed this week as the Chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. 'The track record is that the Commission for Racial Equality has been stymied over the last few years as an effective voice campaigning against racism and discrimination. The CRE has become pre-occupied with satisfying right wing commentators who see multiculturalism as the main enemy.

'The real balance sheet is that the CRE has gone from giving full legal representation in eighty-one cases of alleged discrimination in 2002, to twenty-eight in 2003 to just three in 2005, with zero cases given ‘limited’ CRE representation in 2005.

'Black organisations across the country were absolutely unanimous in their view that the CRE should not be abolished, whereas the CRE at its highest level was in a minority of one in backing Government plans to close the organisation until it was forced to abandon this position.

'We need structures that will ensure that the fight against racism and racial discrimination does not get sidelined. London in particular - where multicultural society is a way of life and which depends on diversity and openness to guarantee economic and cultural success - cannot afford to see the fight against racism sidestepped.'

ABOUT THE CEHR

This body will be a new organisation and will inherit the responsibilities of the existing equality commissions: the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission. It will also have responsibilities on rights in relation to age, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and will ensure that Unions and organisations such as the Citizen Advice Bureau have the correct training and information to advise people on these rights.

The new body, which will become operational in Autumn 2007, will provide a powerful, authoritative, single voice on equality and human rights. In addition to its legal role in enforcing equalities legislation, the body will work to ensure that organisations and individuals have access to clear and understandable information in order to foster debate, tackle issues early on and encourage a change of culture within institutions.

A new helpline and website will be launched to give people clear advice on what to do if they have been discriminated against. This will make it easier to get advice on how to handle discrimination at work or in schools and, for example, what to do about homophobic bullying or what to do if you are made redundant because you are pregnant. It will also have new powers to combat prejudice and to monitor, prevent or reduce crimes affecting communities, particularly hate crime and crimes of incitement.

People and institutions will now have a single point of contact on equality and human rights issues. DCLG will be the Department responsible for this body. The equality body will provide a more coherent focus: often the things that work to remove barriers to opportunities for one group of people, will work elsewhere. The creation of the new equalities body is part of Government's wider work to simplify and modernise the law through the Discrimination Law Review leading to a Single Equality Act in the lifetime of this Parliament. The Equalities Review - reporting early next year - will be exploring wider causes of deep rooted injustice.

In announcing the appointment, Ruth Kelly said: "We all want to live in a society where everyone can get on in life irrespective of their background. Whether it is at school, at work or in how different services treat people this sense of fairness is deeply held. The new equality body will be a powerful advocate for a fairer society for many years to come. It will fight for people who face any barriers or discrimination in their lives.

"Trevor Phillips is the best man for the job. He has a proven track record, a wealth of experience and is prepared to tackle the difficult and controversial issues head on. This will be a valuable asset right across the whole equalities".

Chair of the CEHR Trevor Phillips said: "We need a society where our origins do not determine our destiny, where the dignity and equal treatment of the individual is unfailing, where the disadvantaged are protected and empowered. Our ambition must be to create a society that is at ease with all aspects of its diversity. Bringing Britain closer to this vision is probably the most exciting task of our time.

"When I joined the CRE I believed it could be a great job. In fact, it's turned out to be the best job I ever had. I am thrilled to be asked to lead this completely new organisation which I hope will inherit the best of its predecessors and be enriched by the contributions of the new equality strands. The CEHR will be a modern, creative, open, powerful and above all independent voice for equality and human rights in Britain and internationally."

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