Open letter:
Celebrating Labour's Victory and Embracing a Future of Equality and Opportunity
Dear Labour / Scottish Labour Party,
Congratulations on your landmark majority win! This victory not only marks a refreshing start to the second half of 2024 but also fills us with hope and optimism for a brighter future. As a Scotland-based citizen, I watch the news excitedly, knowing this victory will restore confidence in our politics and politicians.
As an advocate and transformation consultant for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), Antiracism, and Social Justice, I was particularly pleased to hear Anas Sarwar’s commitment to creating a united immigration system. Watching the Sunday Show, it was heartening to listen to the discussions about the need for a unique immigration system tailored to Scotland’s needs. However, there remains uncertainty about the specifics of Labour’s mandate. I will keep a keen eye on it as the party settles into its role.
The urgency of addressing these issues cannot be overstated.
The power of Lived experience + quantitive data for impactful decision.
The "Untapped Talent" report, which we offer for your consideration, highlights various recommendations from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds who are already in Scotland and in desperate need of a reformed immigration system. Immediate action is needed to prevent the potential brain drain and create a more inclusive society.
Labour's recognition of the need for equity when addressing issues of inequality has not always been consistent. The party’s track record in acknowledging and addressing racist discrimination needs improvement. You have the Forde report, a comprehensive review of the party's handling of racism and discrimination, to reflect on (I will dive into that report on another blog). Still, the quote from the report stuck with me:
“Labour has failed to tackle anti-Black racism and Islamophobia, which has resulted in staff members leaving the party”, according to the long-awaited Forde report.
We commend the steps taken to combat antisemitism within the party, such as mandatory antisemitism training for staff. However, a genuinely fair workplace requires an intersectional approach, which means addressing all forms of discrimination simultaneously rather than creating a false hierarchy of oppression. This approach ensures that no one form of discrimination is prioritised over another and that all individuals are treated equitably.
Alongside improving inclusion and belonging and building trust and relationships within the party, the new government needs to reflect on the language, rhetoric, and scapegoating of immigration by the last government in power.
The lumping together of all immigrants without recognising their positive contributions is counterproductive. For instance, international students boosted the UK economy by £42 billion in 2021/22, significantly increasing from £31.3 billion in 2018/19. These students are a net contributor to the UK economy, adding nearly ten times more than they take out and supporting world-class teaching and research at universities. The positive economic impact of economic migrants and international students should be highlighted, not overshadowed by negative narratives. For Scottish labour party this is insight they will gain from our ‘Untapped Talent report’ where international students and those working as carer share with.
Extract from Untapped Talent
We hope Labour will move forward with a clean slate,
an open mind, and genuine inclusive intentions to create a better UK for all. We welcome Labour’s use of available data and reports to implement promises over time, understanding that these changes will not happen overnight or even within the first year.
Our organisation, pRESPECT, is ready to collaborate with Scotland's Labour Party and SNP.
Together, we can focus on actions that will enable our generation and future generations to thrive. The 'Untapped Talent' report reveals that 82% of the 634 respondents experienced discrimination throughout their employment cycle. Over 50% of these individuals work on zero-hour contracts, and most are overqualified for their positions. By working together, we can address these systemic issues and create a more inclusive and equitable society.
We extend our open arms and motivated hearts to this new government, hoping we can build a more inclusive and equitable society together. We envision a society where every citizen, regardless of their background, can contribute to and benefit from Scotland's prosperity. We look forward to working with the Labour Party (in Westminister, who will make decisions) that will impact how the SNP will start to move away from silo data seeking and adopt an agile working where action-taking is part of the data collection to make this vision a reality.
My purpose is clear: to contribute and collaborate in the work needed to provide a future where every citizen, regardless of their background, can benefit from Scotland's prosperity. I am committed to this cause and look forward to the opportunity to work with the Labour Party to achieve these goals.
Warm regards,
Viana maya
CEO/ Transformation Consultant | Social Justice Advocate
pRESPECT
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