BECON

The British National Party on Sunday 14 February voted to end its 'white only' policy to its membership. The move was dismissed by anti-racist campaigners as 'cosmetic'. At an extraordinary meeting held in Essex, members of the party voted to change the constitution of the party that would theoretically allow black and Asian people to join, reported The Guardian.

Earlier Griffin said ethnic minority members would be accepted if they agreed with the party's aims.

He told the BBC: "They'll be accepted, they'll be welcomed, providing they're there to do the things that we want to do, and providing they accept and agree with our principles, which is that multiculturalism, we believe, has been a failure. It was imposed on the British people without any consent, by the political elite. It's still going on, it's madness and it's time to shut the doors."

Voice of Solidarity
Newcastle city centre location to be confirmed
2 x full days (It is ideal if participants attend both sessions)
Thursday 25^th February 2010
Thursday 4^th March 2010
Course is free.
Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Travel and care costs will be reimbursed.*

Participants
Women from BME organisations throughout Newcastle and wider region

Aim
To strengthen the BME women’s voice in the North through a set of sessions designed to help women from BME women’s agencies to enhance their skills, experience and knowledge enabling them to become more effective in their roles, engage with decision makers and develop a strengthened policy voice.

Based on detailed analysis of both Office of National Statistics ' Labour Force Survey and the Higher Education Statistics Agency's HESA Student Record, the report Race into Higher Education finds that almost one in six (16%) of UK university students are from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background. This number is up from 8.3% in 1995-96. This increase is in line with the growth in the BME population from 7.7% of 18 to 24 years in 1995-96 to 14% in 2007-8.

An independent analysis published by Institute for Public Policy Research on 20 January 2010 has identified that almost 48% of Black people aged between 16-24 are unemployed compared to the rate of unemployment among white young people which stands at 20%.

This analysis confirms predictions made before and during the current economic recession in the UK about disadvantage faced by BME communities in the labour market. It is evident from previous recessions in Britain that BME communities are the first ones to exit the labour market and the last to re-enter during recovery. It is expected that this labour disadvantage for BME communities will effect their employment rate when recovery takes hold in British economy.