The Missed Opportunity to Truly Level Up Britain

[Social Media]

 

The Missed Opportunity to Truly Level Up Britain

 

Nearly four years have passed since the Sewell report, officially known as the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report, was published. The goal was never to produce another repetitive and uninspired study claiming Britain was steeped in racism. Instead, it aimed to investigate racial disparities and, more importantly, the root causes behind them. The backdrop to this was the wave of unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd in the United States.

 

The commission, composed mostly of Black and Asian members alongside one white commissioner, Martyn Oliver—now head of Ofsted—examined education, crime, policing, health, and employment using data from the Office for National Statistics and the Race Disparity Unit, established by Theresa May. Fresh research from Oxford University was also commissioned to explore educational disparities.

 

Given how deeply personal and emotionally charged discussions about race are, the commission acknowledged people's lived experiences but focused on what the numbers revealed. The conclusions were explosive, upsetting figures on the left, The Guardian, and even some within the Conservative Party. The report made three main points: racism still exists, race relations have improved significantly over the past 50 years, and the primary drivers of racial disparities are class and geography rather than race itself.

 

 

However, the real controversy stemmed from one uncomfortable truth: the data showed that white low-income communities were experiencing some of the worst outcomes across various metrics. No previous study had confronted this reality so directly, making the report a lightning rod for criticism.

 

The reaction to the report exposed several weaknesses within the government. Instead of embracing its findings as a foundation for change, officials and activist groups sought to undermine it. Critics, including universities and unions, pushed back against the notion that Black and Asian communities had agency over their own progress, falsely accusing the report of dismissing institutional racism altogether.

 

The findings, however, painted a different picture. Ethnic minorities were excelling in education, with Nigerian-origin students progressing the fastest. The reason was clear: stable family structures played a crucial role. Among Caribbean students in the same classrooms, around 67% came from single-parent households, whereas for Indian students, the figure was just 6%. This disparity had little to do with teacher bias and everything to do with family dynamics.

 

Similarly, the report found that white low-income males had the lowest life expectancy in Britain, while African-origin women had the highest. So much for the notion of white privilege. The most challenging places to live and raise children were in predominantly white towns across the north, Midlands, and south coast.

 

Predictably, these conclusions did not align with the narratives promoted by certain activist circles, and as a result, the report has had little impact. However, attitudes have started to shift. Some early critics, such as historian David Olusoga and commentator Ash Sarkar, might be more receptive to its findings today. Sarkar, for instance, has distanced herself from identity politics, acknowledging that it does little to drive material change. Even some Labour peers in the House of Lords have privately admitted that the report was full of common sense—though they would never say so publicly.

 

In hindsight, the report should have served as the blueprint for the government's levelling-up strategy. Instead, key figures, including Michael Gove, were sent in other directions. Had the government taken the report seriously, Gove could have been tasked with replicating his London education reforms in struggling regions like the northeast, East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the south coast, rather than being distracted by housing policy battles.

 

Ultimately, few within the Conservative Party were willing to take on the challenge the report presented. What should have been a roadmap for tackling class-based inequality across Britain was shelved, and the opportunity to transform the country was lost. As Kemi Badenoch aptly put it, “We talked right and governed left.”

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-04-04

 

 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

However, the real controversy stemmed from one uncomfortable truth: the data showed that white low-income communities were experiencing some of the worst outcomes across various metrics. No previous study had confronted this reality so directly, making the report a lightning rod for criticism.

 

There are still some opportiunities for white kids.

 

Whenever Netflix need a bad kid in a movie role. Adolesence for example, a series based on the knife crime perpetrated predominantly by young black males in London obviously needed a white kid from Yorkshire for the role. Oh, and a toxically masculine white father. 

 

No Wonder Starmer thinks it's a documentary and wants to show it in all the schools across the country. It's excellent propaganda. 😄

 

In reality Labour don't care about the white working class, they openly mock them. 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

The OP discusses the failure of the Tory Government to act on the research the Tories commissioned.

 

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Ultimately, few within the Conservative Party were willing to take on the challenge the report presented. What should have been a roadmap for tackling class-based inequality across Britain was shelved, and the opportunity to transform the country was lost.

 

[newbee2022]

7 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

The Missed Opportunity to Truly Level Up Britain

 

Nearly four years have passed since the Sewell report, officially known as the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report, was published. The goal was never to produce another repetitive and uninspired study claiming Britain was steeped in racism. Instead, it aimed to investigate racial disparities and, more importantly, the root causes behind them. The backdrop to this was the wave of unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd in the United States.

 

The commission, composed mostly of Black and Asian members alongside one white commissioner, Martyn Oliver—now head of Ofsted—examined education, crime, policing, health, and employment using data from the Office for National Statistics and the Race Disparity Unit, established by Theresa May. Fresh research from Oxford University was also commissioned to explore educational disparities.

 

Given how deeply personal and emotionally charged discussions about race are, the commission acknowledged people's lived experiences but focused on what the numbers revealed. The conclusions were explosive, upsetting figures on the left, The Guardian, and even some within the Conservative Party. The report made three main points: racism still exists, race relations have improved significantly over the past 50 years, and the primary drivers of racial disparities are class and geography rather than race itself.

 

 

However, the real controversy stemmed from one uncomfortable truth: the data showed that white low-income communities were experiencing some of the worst outcomes across various metrics. No previous study had confronted this reality so directly, making the report a lightning rod for criticism.

 

The reaction to the report exposed several weaknesses within the government. Instead of embracing its findings as a foundation for change, officials and activist groups sought to undermine it. Critics, including universities and unions, pushed back against the notion that Black and Asian communities had agency over their own progress, falsely accusing the report of dismissing institutional racism altogether.

 

The findings, however, painted a different picture. Ethnic minorities were excelling in education, with Nigerian-origin students progressing the fastest. The reason was clear: stable family structures played a crucial role. Among Caribbean students in the same classrooms, around 67% came from single-parent households, whereas for Indian students, the figure was just 6%. This disparity had little to do with teacher bias and everything to do with family dynamics.

 

Similarly, the report found that white low-income males had the lowest life expectancy in Britain, while African-origin women had the highest. So much for the notion of white privilege. The most challenging places to live and raise children were in predominantly white towns across the north, Midlands, and south coast.

 

Predictably, these conclusions did not align with the narratives promoted by certain activist circles, and as a result, the report has had little impact. However, attitudes have started to shift. Some early critics, such as historian David Olusoga and commentator Ash Sarkar, might be more receptive to its findings today. Sarkar, for instance, has distanced herself from identity politics, acknowledging that it does little to drive material change. Even some Labour peers in the House of Lords have privately admitted that the report was full of common sense—though they would never say so publicly.

 

In hindsight, the report should have served as the blueprint for the government's levelling-up strategy. Instead, key figures, including Michael Gove, were sent in other directions. Had the government taken the report seriously, Gove could have been tasked with replicating his London education reforms in struggling regions like the northeast, East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the south coast, rather than being distracted by housing policy battles.

 

Ultimately, few within the Conservative Party were willing to take on the challenge the report presented. What should have been a roadmap for tackling class-based inequality across Britain was shelved, and the opportunity to transform the country was lost. As Kemi Badenoch aptly put it, “We talked right and governed left.”

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-04-04

 

 

Thank you for this detailed report.

The disparity will not stop if Starmer will not act now.

[RayC]

17 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

There are still some opportiunities for white kids.

 

Whenever Netflix need a bad kid in a movie role. Adolesence for example, a series based on the knife crime perpetrated predominantly by young black males in London obviously needed a white kid from Yorkshire for the role. Oh, and a toxically masculine white father. 

 

No Wonder Starmer thinks it's a documentary and wants to show it in all the schools across the country. It's excellent propaganda. 😄

 

In reality Labour don't care about the white working class, they openly mock them. 

 

 

I'll add to your list of grievances.

 

You forgot to mention that the DCI in 'Adolescent' is .. horror ... black and his sidekick is a woman (probably a lesbian)!

 

What's a white, hetrosexual male to do when the odds are so stacked against him?

 

I'll leave you to wallow in your self-pity.

[JonnyF]

9 hours ago, RayC said:

 

I'll add to your list of grievances.

 

You forgot to mention that the DCI in 'Adolescent' is .. horror ... black and his sidekick is a woman (probably a lesbian)!

 

What's a white, hetrosexual male to do when the odds are so stacked against him?

 

I'll leave you to wallow in your self-pity.

 

Yes i noticed that. The black DCI is an honourable man and his son the same. 

The perpetrator and his father are nasty white people. The kind friend of the victim is black and the boy who provided the knife is white.

 

I'd disagree on the female police officer. She came across as a total bitchy Karen but then she was white. Being a woman is only a small box to tick these days and not enough to cancel out her whiteness so we shouldn't expect too much. 

 

It's par for the course in British dramas. If they did one based on the Rochdale rape gangs you can bet it would be a load a white working class "far right thugs" abusing minority victims.

 

If they made it accurate it would be labelled racist. 

 

Everyone sees through it though. Everyone knows the truth about teenage knife crime and the rape gangs. It's actually quite amusing to watch them reverse all the roles to highlight their Woke credentials. 😀

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

On 4/5/2025 at 1:41 AM, RayC said:

 

I'll add to your list of grievances.

 

You forgot to mention that the DCI in 'Adolescent' is .. horror ... black and his sidekick is a woman (probably a lesbian)!

 

What's a white, hetrosexual male to do when the odds are so stacked against him?

 

I'll leave you to wallow in your self-pity.

I don’t think there’s any need to add to the endless stream of sullen victimhood and grievance mongering.

 

Where no actual grievance exists, they can always be invented.

 

Refer above for yet more examples.

 

[Cameroni]

On 4/4/2025 at 2:08 AM, Social Media said:

Similarly, the report found that white low-income males had the lowest life expectancy in Britain, while African-origin women had the highest.

 

Well, I never...

[josephbloggs]

On 4/5/2025 at 10:58 AM, JonnyF said:

 

Yes i noticed that. The black DCI is an honourable man and his son the same. 

The perpetrator and his father are nasty white people. The kind friend of the victim is black and the boy who provided the knife is white.

 

I'd disagree on the female police officer. She came across as a total bitchy Karen but then she was white. Being a woman is only a small box to tick these days and not enough to cancel out her whiteness so we shouldn't expect too much. 

 

It's par for the course in British dramas. If they did one based on the Rochdale rape gangs you can bet it would be a load a white working class "far right thugs" abusing minority victims.

 

If they made it accurate it would be labelled racist. 

 

Everyone sees through it though. Everyone knows the truth about teenage knife crime and the rape gangs. It's actually quite amusing to watch them reverse all the roles to highlight their Woke credentials. 😀

 

 

Wow, not only did he take the bait but he doubled down on it.

Imagine going through life feeling aggrieved at literally everything, feeling victimised constantly, and imaging monsters under your bed (brown ones, obviously).

[johnnybangkok]

16 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Wow, not only did he take the bait but he doubled down on it.

Imagine going through life feeling aggrieved at literally everything, feeling victimised constantly, and imaging monsters under your bed (brown ones, obviously).

It's one of his favourit subjects - the victimisation of white people in the UK.

The report CLEARLY states the true reason behind many of the UK's problems as 'primary drivers of racial disparities are class and geography rather than race itself.' I'm originally from Glasgow and I can assure you 'teenage knife crime and the rape gang' are VERY white there. It's nothing to do with colour and everything to do with a lack of social mobility and simple geography - it's white in Glasgow, it's brown in Leeds and it's black in London. But this doesn't feed into ol' Jonny's agenda and is conveniently ignored.    

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Wow, not only did he take the bait but he doubled down on it.

Imagine going through life feeling aggrieved at literally everything, feeling victimised constantly, and imaging monsters under your bed (brown ones, obviously).

 

Feel free to counter any of the points I made.

 

The floor is yours. 

 

I'm waiting...

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Feel free to counter any of the points I made.

 

The floor is yours. 

 

I'm waiting...

Counter what? It's all just your imagined deranged ranting, there is no counter to that. Carry on.