British cabinet minister fesses up. (There must be an election scheduled soon) –Ed.
Labour has let down white working-class people who have sufferedfrom the impact of largescale immigration, a Cabinet minister admittedyesterday.
Communities Secretary John Denham said councils and government bodies had been ‘blind’ to the needs of this section of society.
The backtracking came in the face of the growing threat to Labour’s core vote from the far-right British National Party.
YesterdayMr Denham said in a speech to union members at the TUC that efforts totackle inequality ‘must include poorer white working- classcommunities, as well as disadvantaged minority ethnic communities.
Mr Denham said areas with high immigration levels felt a sense of’insecurity and unfairness’ because of the impact of new arrivals onjobs and public services.
Unless councils act, these could lead to tensions and resentment, he said.
Hesaid: ‘Many local agencies have a clear and good commitment to tacklingracism and race inequality and are right to do so. But on its own thisis not enough.
‘We can only challenge racism and raceinequality effectively as part of a strategy that tackles all forms ofinequality and disadvantage.
‘This must include poorer white working class communities, as well as disadvantaged minority ethnic communities.
‘Agencieswhich have been blind to these issues, or thought their only remit wasto address minority issues, must re-assess the way they work.’
Hiscomments are the latest attempt by ministers to address fears overimmigration in Labour heartlands, and confront the threat from theBritish National Party.