39 cross party MPs support FEMHO’s call for inclusion of race inequality in COVID-19 Inquiry

39 cross party MPs support FEMHO’s call for inclusion of race inequality in COVID-19 Inquiry.

Spearheaded by Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Streatham and Shadow Immigration Minister, the cross-party letter highlights that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on ethnic minority communities in terms of adverse health outcomes. The signatories include MPs from across the political spectrum including Diane Abbott (Lab), Caroline Lucas (Green), Peter Bottomley (Con) and Anne McLaughlin (SNP).

In the accompanying tweet, Ms Ribeiro-Addy stressed that “the pandemic’s unequal impact has been a reminder that racism is still a matter of life and death”. Following the Inquiry chair’s own recommendations to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that the Inquiry put inequalities at the ‘forefront’ of the investigation, Ms Addy’s letter shows that there is a groundswell of awareness in parliament of the link between Covid-19 and morbidity among ethnic minority communities. Also that there is a critical need and support for groups like FEMHO to be represented at the Inquiry to speak on this. Ade Adeyemi, FEMHO secretary, said:

“Ms Ribeiro-Addy’s letter and the support of different kinds of MPs is fantastic. FEMHO members have been asking their MPs to call on the Inquiry and on the Prime Minister to recognise the disproportionate impacts of Covid-19 on ethnic minority communities. Not only has the chair done this, but she has also recommended that it be a central theme running across the entire Inquiry. This cross-party letter shows that within the highest corridors of power, there is support for what we’re saying, and that the Prime Minister must recognise this.”

FEMHO is continuing to engage with a cross-section of MPs and advocate to ensure that the Prime Minister accepts the terms of reference in full. We are working with Saunders Law’s inquiries team on these matters. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised above, or have any queries please get in touch with Saunders Law at 020 7632 4300 or info@saunders.co.uk.