Southwark Stands Together - Push for equality speech to Council Assembly 2020.

Thank you Madam Mayor

Over the last two weeks we’ve started our listening events as part of Southwark’s response to the structural inequalities and racism highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement. At one of these events the facilitator asked about our attendee’s experience of structural racism, to which it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my most memorable experience of racism and structural inequality … the experience so vivid and etched into my memory, if asked my response would be as clear now as it was then.

I was 18 years old, at University and nursing a headache. On my way to the shops, a car drove by and the driver yelled out ‘Monkey’ — a short moment, yet, one that has stuck with me for decades afterwards. But Madam Mayor I would be wrong to consider this my first experience.

Because my first experience of structural inequalities and racism came from the moment of birth, at King’s College Hospital. As a Black woman, my mother was disproportionately more likely to die during childbirth, 5 times more likely, and potential complications in childbirth would mean I was disproportionately less likely to survive.

The disproportionate impact of poverty within our minority communities meant that both parents had to go back to work just after 6 weeks of having me. It meant that when I was of age, I was unable to go to nursery and experience the wrap around support needed at such a young age and only experienced education for the first time when I went to primary school.

Education disparity meant that close to ¾ of my year group in secondary school which was 90% Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority, didn’t leave school with 5 A*-C school. And the first time I was stopped and searched, it did not come as a surprise to me, as I was disproportionately more likely to be.

That being said, many years on we have seen significant improvements;

Our schools are good or outstanding. Attainment has significantly improved.

The Labour government introduced the race relation act 2000 which now means public agencies must actively address discrimination of all forms.

The commitment to give every child the best start in life irrespective of race led to the Labour government setting up Sure Start.

And it was a Labour Government following the death of Stephen Lawrence, that set up the Stephen Lawrence enquiry which paved the way for the significant shift in how we perceive the role of institutions in fighting racism and injustice and I know the party of the opposition are also committed to tackling racism and injustice.

However, whilst the Labour government sought to begin the good work to end inequalities, we have seen subsequent Conservative governments wind back the progress made. Approximately 1000 Sure start centres have been closed, Black people are now nine times more likely to be stopped and searched and some parts of our minority communities are half as likely to hold managerial, director or senior official roles.

COVID

We have also seen how Covid-19 has removed the sticking plaster on the deep-seated health inequalities within our communities. We know that Black and Asian people are up to 4 times as likely to die from Covid-19.

And what I want to make clear today, is that is it not being Black, Asian Minority that is a health risk, it is the conditions in which BAME and wider poorer communities are forced into. It’s structural injustice, executed through wealth, education and living arrangements that manifest themselves in our health. And we here at Southwark will do our part to address these inequalities.

We are committed to ending the cycle of inequality and providing a fairer future for all of our residents.

That is why I am proud of the policies that this administration has implemented in recent years…

Such as our free healthy school meals programme, which helps families right across the borough.

Our work to address the disproportionate impact of health conditions such obesity through our free swim and gyms initiative…., a personal favourite of my mum, I should add!.

We have backed the ambition of our young diverse population through our Southwark Scholars programme to support young people to go to university at a time where rising fees could discourage minority groups.

And finally, our programme to support Black, Asian and ethnic Minority community businesses through initiatives such as the high street challenge.

Simply put we have come a long way, but we know there still remains challenges.

And this is why we have launched our response; Southwark Stands Together, an approach with cross-party support, that is guided by our commitment to listen but most importantly to ACT.

Over the last 2 weeks and over the next 6 we will be listening to our communities on their experience on structural inequalities and it this work will cover, the themes of

· Health

· Community and Culture

· Employment and business

· Education

· And interactions with the police.

We will also be listening to Southwark council staff in their experience.

This will lead to recommendation to bring forward to Cabinet. We will also work with anchor institutions in the borough, and Cllr Cryan and I wrote to organisations last week and already have received significant support from organisations across Southwark.

The second pillar of our response is reflecting on the individuals that we celebrate in our public open spaces through our anti-racist audit — working with the community this will also provide the opportunity to discuss how we celebrate and champion our diversity in our borough.

Finally, through our relationships within a number of sectors, we will seek to promote diversity in organisations we work with at all levels.

Now what I have described will not be easy, it will require us to come together as a borough, but I am confident we will….

Because our shared history is one when the borough has faced significant challenges it has come together to meet them and pioneered the way for others to follow.

Just like the old metropolitan borough of Bermondsey did — when Ada Salter led efforts through her beautification committee to address the issues of slum dwelling and promote good public health through the planting of 7,000 trees. Her committee brought together the public and private sectors.

They stood together!

Or Dr Harold Moody a physician who led the efforts for civil rights in the UK but based in Peckham, also supported the local community offering free healthcare for kids. The community stood with him and his organisation the League of Coloured people. Dr Moody paved the way for the civil rights act of 1965.

The community also stood together in the face of the 2011 riots — and the morning after… from Walworth road, to Peckham and Lordship Lane — local people and the council got to work rebuilding their community.

They stood together!

In the wake of the London Bridge attack our borough came together again! from traders, to resident groups to say we will not be cowed by terror.

And over the last 4 months, from community groups, to mutual aid groups, the council and the health sector, we’ve come together to respond to the biggest challenge our community has faced yet, COVID-19!

As we reflect on those that have gone before us, so it is for us to work tirelessly to ensure none of our communities are left behind — Not on our watch!

So Madam Mayor

I propose this motion as I know Southwark will stand together again and in so doing will show what can be done when you harness the energy of protest to shape policy for lasting change.

Thank you