What the papers said in the week ending 4 April 2021
At the end of a week which has carried alarming headlines and stories which affect people of all ages, it is a relief to receive messages from Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury, both making reference to the Risen Christ and the prospect of life hereafter
- Pope at Easter Urbi et Orbi: ‘Risen Christ is hope that does not disappoint’ – Vatican News
- The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Easter Sermon 2021 | The Archbishop of Canterbury
- The Methodist Church simply relates the story from Mark’s Gospel: Holy Week worship 2021 (methodist.org.uk)
Our thoughts are otherwise directed to the death of a black man in America at the hands of a police officer – detaining him on suspicion of using a forged 20 dollar note Video of George Floyd’s killing retraumatizes many as trial unfolds | George Floyd | The Guardian
There are revelations which confirm racial prejudice in this country:
- UK schools record more than 60,000 racist incidents in five years | Race in education | The Guardian
- Race crisis damages our legitimacy and effectiveness, says top police chief | Police | The Guardian
- Tackle the systemic racism that leads to children being excluded from school | Race in education | The Guardian
Yet in this context the UK government has released a commissioned report which declares that the UK should be seen as a model of racial equality Boris Johnson’s race commission ‘to scrap use of BAME label’ | Politics | The Guardian
- Downing Street suggests UK should be seen as model of racial equality | Race | The Guardian
- Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities – Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities: The Report – March 2021 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- The report is described as divisive No 10’s race report widely condemned as ‘divisive’ | Race | The Guardian
- Its methodology is called into question by people whose work is cited and they say is misused
- Despite the Sewell report, No 10 can no longer remain in denial about racism | Race | The Guardian
- Doreen Lawrence says No 10 report gives ‘racists the green light’ | Race | The Guardian
- Experts cited in No 10’s race report claim they were not properly consulted | Race | The Guardian
- No 10’s race report used ‘cherry-picked’ data, say public health experts | Race | The Guardian
At the very least this seems to be a faux pas – but it is potentially a dangerous provocateur
- Race in Britain: how did the Sewell report get it so wrong? | Race | The Guardian
- Historian David Olusoga joins academic criticism of No 10’s race report | Race | The Guardian
- Windrush campaigners alarmed by omissions of No 10 race report | Race | The Guardian
- Race report consultation was ‘Fawlty Towers-like’, former Met officer says | Race | The Guardian
- The poisonously patronising Sewell report is historically illiterate | Race | The Guardian
- Tony Sewell – Wikipedia
- Resignation of a senior adviser seems likely to be linked to this turmoil No 10 race adviser Samuel Kasumu resigns | Conservatives | The Guardian
This is a dreadful situation and seems to reveal our government as naively intent on painting a picture of this country which is at odds with the harmful facts of inequality and prejudice.
The authorities’ response to protests and creation of laws under the umbrella of need for restrictions of movement because of the covid crisis rest uneasily alongside this image: Protest laws move UK towards paramilitary policing, says former chief | Police | The Guardian
Less dramatically the rights of workers are being eroded Under cover of Covid, British workers’ rights are being quietly stripped away | Employment law | The Guardian
Faith: The Guardian at least turned some of its pages to consider the issue of faith amongst people trying to come to terms with life in the light of the stresses and deprivations of covid
- How do faithless people like me make sense of this past year of Covid? | Religion | The Guardian
- The Guardian view on ‘post-Christian’ Britain: a spiritual enigma | Religion | The Guardian
- Thanks to the pandemic, I’ve spent a year in one place with my mind in two | Nigeria | The Guardian
Many days passed before the letters column reported any reactions to these thoughtful articles – Even then not really getting to grips with the issues You don’t need a faith to find the meaning of life | Religion | The Guardian
Other matters:
The impact of the pandemic continues to be reported:
There are long delays for people needing treatment for other illnesses ‘A truly frightening backlog’: ex-NHS chief warns of delays in vital care | NHS | The Guardian
Health care staff and care staff are often affected by long covid Strain on NHS as tens of thousands of staff suffer long Covid | Society | The Guardian
Reduced funds for research will slow progress: UK scientists warn of ‘catastrophic’ impact of funding cuts | Science policy | The Guardian
But care home residents will soon be allowed two visitors Care home residents in England to be allowed two visitors from 12 April | World news | The Guardian
Poverty amongst the nation’s children is evidenced particularly by their lack of food: School Food Matters delivers one millionth breakfast | Schools | The Guardian
But adults working in the NHS and as carers are unable to afford housing in many parts of the country: Covid frontline workers priced out of homeowning in 98% of Great Britain | UK news | The Guardian
There has been much more in this week of turmoil and sorrow
As asides – the boat race was displaced by covid considerations to the Great Ouse Boat Race 2021 floats to Great Ouse for unique, unpredictable edition | The Boat Race | The Guardian
And April 1st gave us the prospect of a second Suez Canal ‘Suez 2’? Ever Given grounding prompts plan for canal along Egypt-Israel border | Suez canal | The Guardian
David Jolley
