BAME communities continue to bear the brunt of hostile Tory policies.

A recent UN study reveals in graphic detail how the UK government has targeted black and minority ethnic communities.

A Special Rapporteur for the United Nations Human Rights Council reported on the situation of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and other kinds of racial and religious intolerance in the United Kingdom at the end of May.

The report's conclusions are alarming, or to use the report's own words, "analogously gloomy."

A combination of hostile immigration policies – relics of the hostile environment era – and austerity measures has resulted in an increase in racially and religiously motivated hate crime, racial profiling, and socio-economic inequalities in BAME (black, Asian, and other minority ethnic) communities across the board.

Cuts to public-sector financing have been disastrous, as readers are well aware. Over the last decade, vital services have been reduced by up to 40%.

As per the Special Rapporteur, these actions have disproportionately impacted BAME individuals, families, and communities in the UK. 

“Austerity policies in the United Kingdom are perpetuating racial subordination,” her research concludes. There are various elements that contribute to this.

Since the implementation of austerity measures, the living conditions of black and Asian households have plummeted dramatically. According to a Women's Budget Group (WBG) research, black households experienced a standard loss of 11.2 percent, while Asian households experienced a drop of 11.6 percent. In monetary terms, this corresponds to a £5,090 loss for black households and a £6,526 loss for Asian households.

According to the findings of the Race Disparity Audit conducted in 2016, black and Asian children are twice as likely as white British children to be in persistent poverty and live in substandard housing.

With the cost of Brexit to public finances estimated at 0.4 percent to 1.8 percent of GDP by 2030 (under May's deal) and 1 percent to 3.1 percent under no deal, Brexit could result in cuts ranging from £9 billion to £64 billion if the Conservative government continues its current trend of cutting deficits through austerity. With this in mind, the living conditions of BAME households are expected to deteriorate.

Furthermore, persistent cuts to local funding (which have increased threefold in most regions) have resulted in the closure of many small and medium-sized organisations, a disproportionate number of which are focused at BAME communities.

According to the UN report, BAME women continue to bear the brunt of the burden for this reason (among others). Notably, the research emphasises the toll that previous hostile immigration policies, which eventually encouraged UK service providers to function as immigration officers, have done on the BAME population.

BAME women in particular, including domestic violence victims on British Spouse Visas, as well as asylum-seekers and refugees, were discovered to have been routinely reported to the Home Office after requesting assistance from police forces and health-care workers during the hostile environment's rule.

Although data-sharing regulations are no longer formally in force, many BAME women are nonetheless concerned that seeking aid from the NHS or the police may jeopardise their status and livelihood in the UK.

In her report, the UN Special Rapporteur remarks on this, emphasising examples in which migrant and refugee women were too afraid to visit the hospital throughout their pregnancy and labour, fearing that they or their child would be reported and deported.

It is time to focus on resolving racial inequities in the United Kingdom. Policies must be reviewed as soon as possible. Finally, if the UK is to function as a fair and equal society, more time, energy, and resources must be invested in addressing the challenges raised by the UN.

This article is written by Andrew H. who is a political correspondent and editor for the Chauhan Solicitors in UK.