Launch of Parallel Lives?
Poverty among ethnic minority groups in Britain – a reception at the House of Lords

Lord Parekh addresses the House of Lords reception

We were delighted that CPAG’s latest publication, which reveals the severe and persistent poverty among minority ethnic groups, was launched at the House of Lords recently.

 

Lord Parekh and Lucinda Platt discuss Parallel Lives?

Lord Bhiku Parekh, who wrote the foreword to Parallel Lives? Poverty among ethnic minority groups in Britain, hosted the event in the Cholmondeley Room in the House of Lords. Guests heard author Lucinda Platt ( from the Department of Sociology at the University of Essex) speak about the book, along with Martin Barnes (Director of CPAG) and CB Patel (from the Asian Voice and Gujurat Samachar, which kindly supported the event).

The author's research in Parallel Lives? shows that people from ethnic minority groups in Britain are significantly more likely to be living in poverty. Around a third of all children are living in poverty but disadvantage is deeper among children in ethnic minority groups as a whole and some groups in particular. Seventy-three per cent of Bangladeshi and Pakistani children live in income poverty; along with 63 per cent of Black African children and 40 per cent of Caribbean children.

The report concludes that whilst the causes of poverty vary, there is evidence that discrimination and racism continue to play a critical role in contributing to ethnic minority poverty. Speaking at the event, CPAG Director Martin Barnes said,

‘The starting point is that a third of all children in Britain live in poverty. But levels of poverty among children from ethnic minority groups are staggering. Disadvantage is entrenched in our society but it is deeper and more consistent among minority groups, particularly among children.

'The causes of poverty are complex, but there is strong evidence that discrimination and racism towards ethnic minorities continues to contribute to the risk of living in poverty. Discrimination creates unequal opportunities and unequal outcomes.’

Guests at the event included Simon Hughes MP, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Mayor of London, and Tony Clarke MP, a long time supporter of CPAG.

Also see:

• Parallel Lives? – full publication details
• Parallel Lives? – foreword (download a 25KB Word document)

For more information about our new publication or the reception at the House of Lords please contact Ashley Riley at CPAG on ariley@cpag.org.uk or call 020 7812 5216

All photo credits on this page: Asian Voice.