Tag: Dawn Butler

Below is the text of the speech made by Dawn Butler, the Shadow spokesperson for Women and Equalities, at the Labour Party conference held in Liverpool on 26 September 2018.

Chair, conference, I’d like to thank my equalities team. Carolyn Harris, Naz Shah and Baroness Anita Gale for the great work they do in the Women and Equalities team holding this Tory Government to account.

Rebuilding Britain for the many not the few, we know this is our vision, but what will this look like under the next Labour government?

Almost all of our current equality laws have been made under previous Labour governments.

This Conservative Government continues to destroy hard won equality rights, that Labour and the trade unions have fought for.

Everywhere we look your rights are being eroded or removed.  For far too long, the Tory Government has treated equality as an add on, an afterthought.

The Tories have had 7 different equality ministers, tagged onto 4 different departments and a budget that has been almost halved.

2018 has been a year where the Tory governments institutionally racist policies have been exposed. The hostile environment and the damage they have done to the Windrush generation will never be forgiven nor forgotten – nor should it be.

My parents were invited here from Jamaica. They were confronted with signs saying no blacks – no Irish – no dogs. My parents worked so hard, with my dad never taking a day off sick. They paid their taxes and raised their children well.

Now the Windrush generation in their twilight years, when they should be enjoying retirement, are confronted with go home – you’re no longer British – you are surplus to requirements This could have been my parents. After giving their blood sweat and tears to rebuild Britain they are disguarded like trash.

This was no mistake or unintended consequences by Theresa May – her hostile environment was by design.

Sadly this hostile environment has not been reserved just for the Windrush generation. Under universal credit women lose £1,400 a year and if you are a black woman you lose even more. Older people have seen a reduction in services, with home visits lasting as little as 15 minutes.

How many in this conference can wash, eat and get dressed in 15 minutes?

And don’t forget the 1950’s women who were cheated out of their pensions.

Disabled people you have been treated so badly by this government’s austerity policies that the united nations has said it is a systematic violation of your rights.

Black, Asian minority ethnic people, the government’s own race disparity audit highlighted that its policies have had a detrimental effect on you, from the justice system to education and employment, and yet they still refuse to rectify it.

People of faith, since Brexit we have seen faith hate crime increase by 29% and the LGBTQI+ community in the last 12 months has seen hate crime increase 5 fold – with 45% of trans students attempting suicide.

I could go on talking about so many things that mitigate against a fairer society but I want to talk about what a Labour government would do.

A labour government will put equality centre stage. It will be the central thread across all of government.

We will create a standalone women and equalities department which for the very first time will be headed by a Secretary of State.

We will:

– develop and deliver a national equalities strategy

– lead on reducing discrimination and inequality

– ensure this is enforced through all machinery of government

Labour will deliver a fairer society for the many. We will equality proof all legislation before, during and after implementation, ensuring no individual or group is unfairly discriminated against by our laws. This would prevent another Windrush scandal ever happening again.

Labour’s new Equality department will work alongside other departments to:

– implement up to 10 days paid leave for those suffering from domestic abuse

– change the law so that people can bring forward cases on multiple grounds of discrimination

– strengthen the Equality and Human Rights Commission

– integrate the UN Convention on rights for people with disabilities

– ensure British sign language is given full legal status

– re-establish a women’s national commission

– launch the emancipation educational trust

– supply free sanitary products in schools, colleges and homeless shelters to end period poverty

And conference all this will commence in our first term of office. I know what you’re thinking – when will we find time to sleep?

But who needs sleep when the next Labour government will be the most progressive, aspirational government in this country’s history.

The privileged few and the mainstream media try to tell us it can’t be done. Don’t believe them – it can.

In reality what is wrong with those at the very top getting a little less so that those at the bottom can get a little more? I wouldn’t class that as radical, would you?

A labour government will rebuild Britain for the many not the few.

Conference, there are many people in our country who want to revolt against the cruel injustices of the Conservatives, but there are so many obstacles. They want their voices to be heard but unfair obstacles overpower them. They want a better life but at every turn there’s a different obstacle to overcome.

Conference I am Labour because Labour made my parents feel welcome when they arrived from Jamaica. Labour stands for fairness, equality and justice. It is imperative that we are united and keep people like my parents and the many who desperately need a labour government at the forefront of our minds, and the many more who need us to overcome the obstacles the Tories have put in their way.

This isn’t just a question of spending money but a question of fairness. To build that fairer society we must tackle all of those injustices. A fairer society should be judged on the basis that “we measure success by the obstacles we overcome”.

Conference the time to overcome is now. It is time that we overcome those obstacles if we are to fulfil our vision for the many, not the few.  And conference I believe we can overcome together – united, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day – deep in my heart I do believe we shall overcome some day. And someday soon.

Conference look around you. We are the many and there are many many more, and they need Labour to make our country fairer to level the playing field. To empower them, to break down the obstacles for them.

Conference let’s be united and fight for a Labour government for the many, not the few.

Below is the text of the speech made by Dawn Butler, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, at the Labour Party Women’s Conference in Liverpool on 22 September 2018.

Good morning conference. What a year it’s been for us.

Sadly, we have lost the wonderful Tessa Jowell. But in her memory we have marched in our thousands against Trump, said enough is enough to sexual harassment, fought for the reproductive rights of women in Northern Ireland, called for an end to period poverty.

And all this – in the centenary year of when some – but not all – women got the vote.

This reminds us that – no woman should ever be left behind.

You are phenomenal women – and you are vital to Labour winning the next election.

We are the many, literally 51% of the UK population. We truly are the many.

This Conservative Government has shown us their true colours – they have created a hostile environment for the Windrush generation and others – disabled people; the LGBT+ community; older women; BAME people.

86% of the cuts have fallen on the shoulders of women – your shoulders – and now is time for the many to rise up.

We need innovation and transformation on a scale like we have never seen before – transformation that works for working people – and for those who need a government that cares for them.

Only a Labour Government will deliver for the many not the few.

This Tory Government simply does not care – in fact almost every single policy they implement makes the lives of women worse.

Women are poorly and under-paid – whether it is as a result of the gender pay gap or the unpaid caring responsibilities –  this underpayment means that women can find it hard to care for themselves and their families.

Women’s refuges are in crisis, foodbanks on the rise – period poverty, all cuts have consequences.

Local councils, have seen nearly 50% of their funding cut – I want to give a shout out to all the councillors fighting everyday against these Tory cuts.

Conference, we are in Liverpool where over 30 years ago the council stood up to Thatcher and said-better to break the law than break the poor.

Councils today should not have to consider cutting funding for women refuges, a lifeline to the most vulnerable.

Labour alongside women’s aid – has called for sustainable long-term funding and national oversight to set quality standards.

But you know what conference, the woman at the head of Government – refuses to accept her failings – every Wednesday Jeremy highlights the consequences of her damaging policies but she refuses to listen – instead she feigns ignorance and spouts half-truths.

Only a Labour government will deliver for the many not the few.

Far from dealing with the “burning injustices” of society, we have a Government that pours petrol all over them.

Martin Luther King said, ‘our minds are being invaded by half-truths prejudice and false talks – there is little hope for us until we become tough-minded enough to break loose from these shackles.

So break loose conference – break loose – hold your heads high – stand tall and believe in our traditional Labour values – and our ability to win with our socialist values – and our ability to make our country a better and fairer place for all.

OK we are in opposition but with your help and with the phenomenal work of the trade unions we have had victories; scrapping employment tribunal fees;  universal credit waiting time reduced; the resignation of Toby young.

Just imagine what we will achieve in Government.

We want to build a society where no one is held back v we can’t carry on just tinkering around the edges – with equality an afterthought.

The Conservatives have had seven different equality ministers tagged onto four different departments and a budget that’s almost been halved.

This proves the Tories are not taking equalities seriously.

That’s why the next Labour government will create a standalone department, headed by a secretary of state to reduce discrimination and inequality.

The next Labour government will put equality centre stage.

The next Labour government will protect all women

Domestic abuse is a hidden killer and remains at epidemic levels.

The most recent ONS survey shows 1.2 million women have experienced domestic abuse in a year. The impact on the victim and those around them is devastating.

So it’s time domestic abuse becomes everyone’s business.

Employers have a duty of care to employees experiencing domestic abuse.

It can be done. We have already seen new employment laws introduced in the Philippines, Australia and most recently New Zealand granting victims the right to paid leave.

So today I am proud to announce that Labour will require employers to have a domestic abuse employment policy and provide up to 10 days paid leave.

This crucial time will allow women and men to leave their abusive partners safely – get the help – protection and support they need knowing their livelihood is secure.

On average 2 women a week are murdered by a current or former abusive partner. These 10 days could literally help save the lives of those women.

Only a Labour government will deliver for the many not the few.

Under Labour we will help good businesses succeed; we want businesses to pay staff the real living wage; strive to end the gender pay gap; encourage paternity leavers.

Under Labour, government contracts will go to companies who treat employees well.

Only a Labour government will deliver for the many and not just the few.

And conference, I have another announcement-planning for Government is quite empowering.

For too long our laws have allowed discrimination to go unchallenged; conference, a Labour Government will change that; we will acknowledge intersectionality.

Intersectionality is about how different layers of discrimination interact with each other – for example – our laws do not recognise the fact that black women can be discriminated against because they are both black and a woman; or a woman being discriminated against because of her age and gender; or disability and gender.

A Labour government will change that and enact section 14 of the equality act, so people can bring forward cases on multiple grounds of discrimination.

A Labour Government will create an environment – at home – at work and in public spaces, which will encourage people to be their true authentic selves.

Conference just imagine if all the men fought for the rights of women, equal pay would be achieved overnight.

Just imagine if all white people fought for the rights of black people – racism would no longer be so prevalent in our society – and just imagine if all of the straight people fought for the rights of the LGBT+ community – homophobia would be a thing of the past.

And I could go on.

But imagine our society, truly a place for the many and not the few, we have to be that society we have to be the change we seek.

Only a Labour Government will deliver for the many not the few.

We will rebuild our country for the many not the few.

This is not an easy battle to fight – or win – they will throw everything at us. But we have to be tough-minded – we have to be steadfast in our vision – and we have to be our true authentic selves.

We have to be the flood of positivity to drown out all of the negativity.

Because we are the many;

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down,

I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out.

I am brave, I am bruised.

I am who I’m meant to be, this is me.

Look out ’cause here I come.

And I’m marching on to the beat I drum.

I’m not scared to be seen.

I make no apologies, this is me.