7 OTHER ACTION TO ENSURE LABOUR IS A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR MEMBERS OF ALL COMMUNITIES
I explained earlier why the trigger of antisemitism notwithstanding , I believed that it was right that my terms of reference embrace all forms of racism . I also explained that it is not enough to avoid being clearly , expressly or deliberately racist in the Labour Party if anyone feels excluded from their instinctive political home . That is why the idea of ensuring " Labour is a welcoming environment for members of all communities " constitutes the fundamental underpinning of my task . The journey of this Inquiry has reinforced the importance of this , not just in principle , but sadly in practice as well .
I believe it right , natural and wholly positive for the Labour Movement , that so many new-comers to Britain , their children and grandchildren have gravitated to the party of social justice since its origins and inception . There is nothing inherently suspect about this tendency , and it should be welcomed and positively encouraged by all in the Party .
I am sorry to report that " a welcoming environment " has not been the overwhelming experience of many BAME members , including those from Afro-Caribbean , Muslim and Sikh communities in particular . I heard too many stories ( from across the country ) of members who felt that they were " good enough to deliver votes and leaflets " but not for staff or leadership positions within the Party or to be candidates for public office save ( and often not even then ) where their own ethnic community provides the majority of the electorate . This kind of testimony was far too common and consistent to be a complete misunderstanding and I do not want to see members of any communities leaving the Party to seek engagement and representation elsewhere .
" Language Skills "
An Afro-Caribbean woman of obvious intelligence , articulacy and experience described how she had been told that her " language skills " were insufficient for her to be put forward for election . Her language skills and advocacy were in fact excellent ( at least to my ears ). Indeed I have little doubt that English was probably her first language . Nonetheless , she had an accent , as we all do , whether shaped in part by our class , ethnic , national or regional background , or any combination of all of the above . So her experience was of direct racism and this has been experienced by a number of others , including of South Asian origin .
Further , if there really are problems within communities in relation to members who lack sufficient English language literacy or speaking skills adequately to participate at any particular level , surely fellow Party members or the Party more formally should seek to provide a way to help in the attainment of such proficiency . To exclude people from any aspect of life , rather than offering a helping hand in such circumstances , may be acceptable in other political parties but it is wholly unworthy of Labour .
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