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SOLIDARITY: Sadiq Khan says he wants to see a city of united citizens

MAYOR OF London Sadiq Khan’s efforts to create a socially integrated city have been welcomed by politicians and community activists.

Mayor Khan recently held the inaugural Social and Integration Conference at London’s City Hall where he addressed city leaders and mayors from around the world, including New York and Paris.

During the conference he reiterated his pledge to make social integration in London one of his ‘core’ priorities during his time in office.

Khan said: “We have seen major political upheaval around the world in recent months, with the EU referendum here in the UK and the presidential election in the US. This has shown how politics is becoming more and more polarised with whole communities in cities across the world feeling increasingly disconnected and estranged from national politics.

“That’s why now, more than ever, we need to build a strong sense of social solidarity within our cities – a renewed sense that we are united as neighbours and citizens.”

To achieve his objectives Khan recently appointed Matthew Ryder as deputy mayor for social integration, social mobility and community engagement.
Speaking to the Voice about the challenges of his new role Ryder identified a number of key problems he wanted to find solutions to such as the poor integration of African and Caribbean communities; poor housing, lack of job opportunities and negative experiences with the criminal justice system.

Ryder said: “We cannot be prescriptive about these issues. The only way to develop serious policy to tackle these problems is by acquiring reliable data. In the past data acquired about the African Caribbean community hasn’t always been reliable and so solutions and policy haven’t been on a reliable foundation. The purpose of the Social and Integration Conference is to find out what cities are doing to improve social integration and to focus on policy improvements in London. Additionally, myself and other deputy mayors have formed the Economic Fairness Group to consider the best way to push forward economic equality and fairness.”

Councillor Anntoinette Bramble, the deputy mayor of Hackney who has lived in the East London borough for 20 years, agrees that accurate data is required to develop effective policy that help black and minority ethnic communities.

She said: “The mayor’s office needs to speak with community leaders in areas like Hackney to discover what our challenges are and how the disadvantaged are being integrated successfully. This will help to construct organic policy across London’s communities. And of course enterprises and initiatives need funding.”

During the event Marvin Rees the UK’s first elected black mayor was forthright when discussing what will be required if Sadiq Khan’s policies are to be successful.

He said: “We have to be serious about tackling economic and social inequalities.

“The mayor’s office needs pro-active bodies to drive forward job creation, transport links and house building. This will tackle some of the inequalities and injustices that affect both black and white people and will begin the process of stifling a lack of integration.”

However Simon Woolley, director and founder of Operation Black Vote, said that more stringent actions were needed.

He said: “The GLA needs to look at the dynamics which lock people out socially and economically. I would like to see race equality policy touching on every walk of life from schooling to business opportunities. If this isn’t developed the policy generals in London will set a train in motion that will leave the disadvantaged behind.”