The head of the race equality watchdog said that the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights would be 'bad for race, bad for equality', and would weaken the influence of the CRE. He proposed the creation instead of a new 'Commission for Citizenship and Integration', which would fulfil the duty of promoting and encouraging good race relations, and also deal with wider issues of cultural conflict.
Source: Speech by Trevor Phillips, 30 November 2005
Links: Text of speech | CRE press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Nov
A study found that 'feeling British' could provide the basis for a more cohesive society, especially in respect of ethnic minority populations.
Source: ETHNOS Research and Consultancy, Citizenship and Belonging: What is Britishness?, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Report (pdf) | CRE press release
Date: 2005-Oct
A think-tank report said that multiculturalism was a divisive political doctrine that created enormous costs, and fomented racial hatred.
Source: Patrick West, The Poverty of Multiculturalism, Civitas (020 7401 5470)
Links: Civitas press release | BBC report
Date: 2005-Sep
A think-tank report (by a Liberal Democrat spokesperson) said that multiculturalism had hindered efforts to build an inclusive British national identity.
Source: Vincent Cable MP, Multiple Identities: Living with the new politics of identity, Demos, available from Central Books (020 8986 5488)
Links: Report (pdf) | Demos press release
Date: 2005-Sep
The head of the race equality watchdog said that Britain was "sleepwalking" towards a racially segregated society.
Source: Speech by Trevor Phillips 22 September 2005, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Text of speech | CRE press release | IHRC press release
Date: 2005-Sep
The government began consultation on proposals to establish a Commission on Integration and Cohesion, aimed at identifying and overcoming barriers to integration.
Source: Press release 21 September 2005, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2005-Sep
An article disputed the notion of a link between decline in support for welfare and growing ethnic diversity.
Source: Adrian Barton and Nick Johns, 'Pragmatism and the third way: an open door for new racism?', Social Policy and Society, Volume 4 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Jul
The Commission for Racial Equality published its annual report for 2004.
Source: 2004 Annual Report, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Links: Report (pdf) | CRE press release
Date: 2005-Jul
The government announced plans (in the Queen's speech) for a Bill to outlaw incitement to religious hatred.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 17 May 2005, columns 29-31, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Law Society press release | MCB press release
Date: 2005-May
The government published (following consultation) a strategy designed to increase race equality and build a strong and cohesive society. It included a greater commitment to joint working to boost race equality, measured against annually published data on targets set across government, and overseen by a ministerial committee. A linked document brought together race equality data for the key public service areas, and provided the statistical background to the strategy.
Source: Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: The government s strategy to increase race equality and community cohesion, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | Race Equality in Public Services, Home Office | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 19 January 2005, columns 39-41WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Strategy (pdf) | Consultation responses (pdf) | Public services report (pdf) | Hansard | Home Office press release | LGA press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Jan