People from ethnic minorities are no longer automatically disadvantaged in modern Britain, Communities Secretary John Denham will say today.He will say that progress made on racial equality means disadvantage is now more linked to poverty, class and identity.
Launching a review of government policy on race, Denham will promise support to tackle inequality in white working class areas as well as in ethnic minority communities.
He will say: "The Government has an absolute commitment to eradicating racism and promoting race equality. And that work will not stop until every single person in this country has the same opportunities and an equal chance of success.
"Sustained action over the last 10 years has promoted racial equality and better race relations, dismantled unfair barriers faced by many and helped to nurture a society more comfortable with diversity than ever before.
"New trends are emerging linked to the way that race and class together shape people's lives and this makes the situation much more complex. That does not mean that we should reduce our efforts to tackle racism and promote race equality but we must avoid a one dimensional debate that assumes all minority ethnic people are disadvantaged.
"The landscape has changed and we have to make sure that our efforts are tackling problems of today and not those of the past."
The government's Equalities Bill, which will force public services to take account of inequality, is currently in its final Parliamentary stages.
