THE Labour Party in Brighton has issued a manifesto to invest in more opportunities for the black, Asian and minority ethnic (Bame) community to have equal representation.

The pledges aim to address ongoing discrimination.

Labour candidate for Brunswick and Adelaide ward Darryl Telles previously worked as an equal opportunities officer for councils in London, Surrey and Northampton before moving to Brighton.

He said: “In my ward, one in three people in the community are from Bame background so it’s important that we recognise the role they play for the city.

“As a person from a Bame background, I want to represent them on the council. I have personally experienced racism myself.

“In the post-Brexit debate I have received racist abuse to my face and on social media from people whose thoughts are confined to the Seventies.

“We have seen an increase in hate crime based on religion, particularly against Muslims and Jews.

“The party also wants to help Bame young people who are bullied at school and to make sure policies and procedures are in place to help the victim and to deal with the perpetrator.

“Even though we have a thriving Bame community, it’s sad that is not reflected in voluntary or corporate sectors. Having a diverse workplace helps an organisation to flourish.”

The manifesto includes pledges to:

l Recognise the deficit of Bame people in leadership positions across the city and invest in a civic leadership programme to improve the representation of Bame people.

l Establish a resource within the voluntary sector to work against the rise of religiously and racially motivated hate crimes providing specialised support to schools

l Invest in an independent Bame-led voluntary sector ensuring that the needs of the diverse communities of our city are supported by funding decisions.

l Promote an equalities standard with partners in the city including the corporate and voluntary sector to ensure fair employment practices and positive action to tackle Bame under-

representation.

l Work against the hostile environment policies that have stigmatised Bame communities and provide guidance and reassurance, recognising the contribution these communities make to life in the city.