Protesters in Parliament Square

A COUNCILLOR has launched a campaign to tackle anti-black racism within the Labour Party.

Bunhill councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie co-founded the Campaign Against Afriphobia (CAA) along with Hackney North’s BAME officer Lucie Scott last month.

The CAA came into being in response the publication of the Forde Report that found evidence of a “hierarchy of racism” at work within the party.

The campaign launched on Friday with a protest in Parliament Square. This demonstration was attended by Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott and Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, among ­others.

Councillor Valerie Bossman-Quarshie

Afriphobia is a term used to describe the prejudice, hostility and racism experienced by those of African or Afro-Caribbean heritage, Cllr Bossman-Quarshie said.

The Forde Report suggested the Labour Party was “operating a hierarchy of racism or of ­discrimination with other forms of racism and ­discrimination being ignored”.

Compiled by Martin Forde QC, the report also suggested Labour staffers were working to undermine Jeremy Corbyn’s chances of winning a general election while he was Labour leader.

According to the report, anti-Semitism had been used as a “factional weapon” by both the right and the left of the party in the internal struggle for control.

Cllr Bossman-Quarshie said she was concerned this meant allegations of anti-black racism were not taken as seriously as other forms of racism.

The Bunhill councillor said her party’s leadership had been largely “silent” since the report was published and she said her “frustration” with this response served as the inspiration for the CAA.

“We need to be not tolerated but accepted,” she said of black Labour members, adding that her message to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was: “Come and work with us, let us have a seat at the table. We need cultural and political change.”

The CAA recently published an open letter to Mr Starmer condemning his “silence” and calling for an “acknowledgement that there has been anti-black racism endemic in the Labour Party”. The letter continued: “We expect a public acknowledgement of this and an apology.”

The CAA also hopes to see anti-black racism raised as a key topic at the upcoming Labour Party conference later this month.

“We’re highlighting [anti-black racism] within the Labour Party,” said Cllr Bossman-Quarshie.

“When we talk about BAME, it’s a broad umbrella. We’re not talking specifically about Afro-Caribbean and African people. We talk about anti-Semitism and islamophobia but Afriphobia is not on the radar.”

Lucie Scott

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “We are proud of the changes that have been made under Keir Starmer and David Evans’ leadership but there is no room for complacency so we will always look at ways to improve our culture and practice to support all protected characteristics.

“In April 2022, we launched our new independent complaints process that ensures complaints involving all protected characteristics will be decided impartially and fairly. This is a critical step on the Labour Party’s journey to build confidence in our commitment to tackle all forms of discrimination, as well as to tackle sexual harassment.

“This sits alongside ­other work within the party to tackle discrimination and improve our culture and practice, including the implementation of a new code of conduct on Afrophobia and Anti-Black Racism in November 2021 and a new code of conduct on Islamophobia in July 2021.

“The party has also established a Diversity and Inclusion Board with its union and staff networks, chaired by the general secretary and supported by external experts.”