ESRL Asks: When will the next ‘William’ arrive to come down hard on anti-discrimination?

The question is a jovial but serious take on London buses as people say: ‘You wait for one for a long time then two come along’.  As a joke, it may suggest ‘patience’ or ‘living in hope’ or ‘having no choice’ or ‘desperation’!!!

William Wilberforce (1759 – 1833)

The abolition of slavery was purely a matter of being bad for employment to quote: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, nor any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

Aversion to Institutional racism in UK Police and policing was also purely a matter of being bad for employment: “…the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour”.

Sir William Macpherson (1926 – )

Staying on the course of what is ‘good for employment’; it has taken two hundred (200) years between the two Williams – William Wilberforce and William MacPherson – we argue, to pay heed to racial discrimination in employment.  But it still persists.  ESRL notes that despite these two seismic events, an Equality Act 2010 was and is still necessary.  ESRL further observes that the Act may be a bridge for ‘another wait’ for ‘another 200 years’ before ‘another William’ stands up to say enough is enough.

In the meantime, powerful employers are trumpeting disconnected anti-discrimination messages in different forms of employment as paraphrased in the quotes below:

  • ‘…boycott employment activities that are insensitive to protected characteristics…’
  • ‘…over promoting employment activities that favour certain protected characteristics…’… ‘…is a campaign of terror….’
  • ‘…legal injunction should be applied on employers who breach Equalities Act 2010…’
  • ‘…poor people from protected characteristics are not protected by cost of living…’… ‘…instead should celebrate upward social mobility …’
  • ‘…start a new initiative to dismantle discrimination, phobias, bullying etc…’…‘as colour-coding society has unknown risks…’
  • ‘…mortalise each protected characteristic with an “International Day”….’

Jack Alecho-oita, a director at Equalities Sensitivity Rating Ltd comments as follows: “I have been blessed with opportunities to learn and know how to prepare food in the kitchen.  While in the kitchen, it can get very hot for cooks; but they endure until the food is cooked and served.  So we should not despair.  A world of non-racist employment is still a hot and boiling subject dish undergoing preparation and over time can become palatable.  Our task is to continue turning up the heat on racism and all forms of discrimination.  Not all is lost.”

Editors Notes:

  1. Mr Alecho-oita is available for interviews on 0044-798-459-4876 or jack.a@equalitiessensitivityrating.com.
  2. ESRL can be mailed at info@equalitiessensitivityrating.com
  3. Below are sampled sources which triggered the question of waiting for the next ‘William’:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/18/uk-equalities-minister-due-to-attend-sochi-winter-olympics/ PinkNews has learnt Equalities Minister Helen Grant is highly likely to attend the Winter Olympics in Sochi and that there is a strong possibility her  PinkNews.co.uk.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/crime-courts/ex-husband-released-from-jail-is-hounding-wife-he-abused.22983445 She has urged Equalities Minister Shona Robison to meet with Ms Gordon to discuss these “failings” by the SAS and the justice system. The latest  Herald Scotland.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/msps-told-that-jailed-ambulance-boss-who-threatened-wife-is-stalking-her-while-tagged.1387303594 Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) manager Grant Gordon was jailed for waging “a campaign of terror” against his wife Maureen, Labour equalities  Herald Scotland

http://www.itv.com/news/2013-12-16/rbs-accused-of-racism-towards-ordinary-people/ Lawyers launch claims on Equalities Act for British residents with ties to Iran. Photo: PA/PA Wire/Press Association Images. Lawyers for more than a  ITV News

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2522910/Public-bodies-fail-appoint-working-class.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 Dr Pinto-Duschinsky concluded that the UK needs an extension to its entire equalities policy, and calls for an inquiry to be run by the Government Equalities  Daily Mail

http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/wider-political-news/cameron-dismisses-cost-of-living-crisis.22938852 DAVID Cameron has distanced himself from his equalities minister after she  But on the equalities minister, he added: “I speak for the Prime Minister, she is a  Herald Scotland

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/maidstone_s_helen_grant_on_the_trials_and_tribulations_of_her_rise_to_ministerial_power_1_3093810 Helen Grant MP – Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Equalities and Tourism, DCMS, Westminster, Central London, 20th November 2013.   Kent News

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/12/02/government-whip-jenny-willott-to-provide-maternity-cover-for-equalities-minister-jo-swinson/ A Government Whip since 2012, Ms Willott will take over as junior equalities minister as well as under-secretary of state for employment relations, consumer and  PinkNews.co.uk

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2516316/LIZ-JONES-Dads-dont-want-year–useless-ironing-tea-towels.html Jo Swinson, who is eight months pregnant and also an Equalities Minister (in that order!), wants men to have more flexibility to share childcare leave from April  Daily Mail

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2013/11/26/166-Britain-becoming-colour-coded-society.html The former head of the equalities watchdog, Trevor Phillips, said Britain has become a ‘colour coded society’. He has launched a study into the way races move  Newstrack India

http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=26442&itemTitle=Sports+Minister+lights+up+Maidstone+HC&section=22 Helen Grant, Minister for Sport and Equalities and Maidstone’s local Member of Parliament led proceedings on Saturday 23 November when she formally turned  England Hockey

http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Hampshire/Portsmouth/PO6/Whats-on-in-Portsmouth/Public-Meetings/262943-Celebrate-International-Day-of-Persons-with-Disabilities The Hate Crime Service and Equalities Team at Portsmouth City Council have announced an event to celebrate UN International Day of Persons with  AboutMyArea

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/11/22/equalities-minister-lauds-europes-first-24-hour-lgbt-hackathon-to-help-create-new-tools-for-community/ Helen Grant, the Minister for Equalities has welcomed the first LGBT hackathon to be held in Europe. The event, organised by the tech industry’s LGBT forum,  PinkNews.co.uk