How Labour’s Alleged Afriphobia Left Black People Feeling ‘Politically Homeless'
Labour’s perceived silence on alleged instances of anti-Black racism highlighted in a leaked internal report last month has cost the party the support of dozens of Black members. But for others, dissatisfaction has been growing over years rather than weeks, and stems from what is seen as a lack of representation at the top tables – and of solidarity with the senior Black politicians the party does have.
Open Labour, an activist group within the party, told HuffPost UK: “The leaked report highlighted multiple instances of anti-Black racism against Black MPs that has now sparked a much-needed conversation around anti-Black racism, a topic all too often ignored.”
HuffPost UK has spoken to or been made aware of more than 50 people who have given up their membership or say they are considering doing so over alleged anti-Black racism in the party.
One is Yvonne Witter, 61, who joined Labour four years ago.
“Labour has been the default party for Black people over the years but now I know many people for whom that’s changing,” she said.
The Londoner, who currently lives in Yorkshire, is alarmed about the contents of the leaked report.
“We traditionally voted Labour because of its policies on socialism. We’ve supported the party which will address social inequalities where we know the Tories don’t do. And many Black people don’t even vote Labour – they just don’t vote,” she explained.
“Black people are going to have to stick our necks out, go with another party – in my case it’ll be the Green Party – and let Westminster know that our votes don’t come cheap: there are conditions.
“They need to re-establish the conversation around Black people, politics and who we vote for, because Labour isn’t it.”
All forms of racism is wrong and yet there isn’t any focus on Afriphobia in the partyYvonne Witter, 61
Yvonne added: “I’ve cancelled my Labour membership because I don’t fancy Keir Starmer as leader and I don’t like the way...
