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English girl barred from Government job...because she is wrong kind of white
Last updated at 10:37am on 06.08.07A teenage science student has been banned from applying for a training programme with the Environment Agency because she is white and English.
The recruitment agency handling the scheme told Abigail Howarth, 18, that there was no point in her submitting an application because of her ethnic background.
But bizarrely she could have applied if she had been white and Welsh, Scottish or Irish.
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Turned down: Abigail Howarth
Abigail, who wanted to join the Agency's flood management programme, saw an advert in a local newspaper offering positions in the Anglia region where she lives, complete with a £13,000-a-year tax-free grant.
It made no mention of the ban on white English applicants, merely noting that candidates from ethnic minorities, such as "Asian, Indian' and "White Other, e.g. Irish, Welsh, Scottish', were encouraged to put themselves forward.
Abigail, of Little Straughton, Bedfordshire, said: "I was really disappointed. To be told being "White English" ruled me out in my home county shocked me. I know why there are positive action training schemes to assist those who are genuinely discriminated against but when it's broken down to this level it seems crazy to me.
"I really wanted to work for the agency and I was very excited - followed by feeling very disappointed.
"I would not have minded had I been beaten for the position by somebody better able than me."
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Abigail, who is awaiting the results of A-Levels in environmental science, geography and geology, emailed PATH National Ltd, the company handling applications.
She asked: "Am I correct in assuming that as I am English (White) I need not apply as the preference is for the minorities you have listed, or can I apply anyway?'
Three days later, PATH recruitment officer, Bola Odusi, replied: "Thank you for your enquiry unfortunately the traineeship opportunity in <\[>sic] targeted towards the ethnic minority group to address their under representations in the professions under the Race Relations Act amended 2000."
Such a policy may breach Race Relations legislation as employers must prove ethnic groups are under-represented before using positive discrimination strategies.
The Environment Agency admitted it had 'no evidence that white Welsh, Scottish or Irish workers were under-represented' in the Anglia region.
South West Bedfordshire Tory MP Andrew Selous said: "I think this is complete nonsense and the Environment Agency should be taking the best people, irrespective of their background.
"This is obviously borne out of some idiotic quota system. Abigail should have been able to apply and been judged on her own merits. I will raise this when I have a meeting with the Environment Agency next month."
PATH National's organisational development manager, Mary McDowell, said: "The "White Welsh", "White Irish" and "White Scottish" is a technicality in law - if they are a minority, they are entitled to places on these schemes - they are not part of the majority group, which is "White English".
"The "White English" in this area are the majority group and hence could not apply.
"That is the way the law is laid. This is a chance for people who might be less employable to gain experience, just experience. Public-sector organisations have a duty to ensure they reflect the make-up of the society they serve."
The Environment Agency says 387 of its 12,000 workers claim BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) status. A spokesman added: "The Commission for Racial Equality has confirmed we are acting legally."
A CRE spokeswoman said: "The Commission will be checking with the Environment Agency to clarify the current situation regarding their positive action initiatives.
"Positive action can only be used to encourage or train particular under-represented groups."
Reader views (35)
A disgrace, I understand how this young lady feels. I'm married to a Chinese lady, our relationship goes back over many years. I find myself discriminated simply by that fact by the immigration laws.
My views and opinions have changed completly on our politics and government no matter who they are.
- Charles Davidson, Tonbridge Kent, 16/08/2010 10:19
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Look, for an asian male, even with an oxford dregree and lots of qualifications it is ery hard to get a job and if you change your name on your cv to a white one you instantly get inteviews. So stop pretending the problem is about white people having a hard time due to their race!!!!!! how mad.
- Harold Whiteman, London, 17/07/2009 09:04
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Surely this can't be legal. If it is then the law is an ass.
- Maureen Landers, Birmingham, England, 01/10/2007 15:34
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That about sums it up. Someone who is English by descent cannot apply for the job she wants in England because she is English. Why do we have a so-called 'goverment' which presides over such ridiculous, racist laws. Can you imagine this kind of nonsense before 1950? Mad, utterly barking.
- Nick Ashley, Southampton England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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I am disgusted by this racist anti-English discrimination and the person responsible should be sacked for this anti-English racism. The post should go to the best person possible regardless of race, sex or any other considerations.
- Kevin Wells, Deal England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Does this Government want me to join the BNP or is it going to start treating my children with equality in future.
- Dave Bristol, Bristol England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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This is not right. That young lady should sue the Environment Agency for racial discrimination. If a black person was refused on the same grounds we all know the uproar that would follow.
This is what you get under Labour, Conservative or Lib-Dem rule. Please engage your brain next time you visit the polling station.
- Peter, Colchester, England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Of course white Welsh, Scots and Irish are under-represented in East Anglia - it's East Anglia - the majority of white people living there are English. Where do they think the term 'English' comes from - Anglia! Surely they should be aiming for the workforce to reflect the local demographic - whether that's 90% English or 30/30/40 Scottish, Jamaican and Somalian.
- Claire, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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More Anti-English discrimination, perpetrated now on a daily basis. Another huge reason for the creation of an English Parliament. Until this is achieved the English can expect more of the same.
- Will Hanlon, Huddersfield England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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It should be illegal to advertise for applicants using race and colour, the ideal person for the job should be the one with the right qualities and qualifications, "ethnicity" should not matter.
- Ed, Lincoln, UK, 01/10/2007 14:34
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It is very rare for me to bother with posting my views on anyhing really. However, after seeing this story on the news last night I nearly hit the roof with disbelief! This joke of a government needs to take a long hard look at itself and understand who it is that keep the wheels of this great country turning!
- Andy, Bedford, England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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I just could not believe what I was reading, what on earth is happening in this country? Have we all gone absolutely ridiculously over the top on this 'PC' busines - whatever will they think of next I wonder.
I feel my grandchildren have very little to look forward to in the future and if this sort of rubbish continues there will be even less!!!
- B.Wingrove, Kent, UK, 01/10/2007 14:34
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So the CRE are getting involved are they? Shouldn't they do what they do best and hold a protest march against Asterix the Gaul or something?
- Dave Thomas, Swansea, 01/10/2007 14:34
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The tip of a very large iceberg. I have encountered endless examples whereby the indigenous people of these islands are discriminated against.
- John Mackinnon, Lincoln, England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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This is happened in every organisation now - the police, prison service, civil service. The CRE turns a blind eye. Something has to give - 90% of the British population are not going to allow themselves to be discriminated against. Remember, Labour have done this. hites are now second class citizens in this country. I think we need a Commission for White Equality because the CRE will not stand up for white equality.
- Cameron, London W2, 01/10/2007 14:34
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DaveB is the one not reading things properly. The article states
"It (the job application) made no mention of the ban on white English applicants, merely noting that candidates from ethnic minorities, such as "Asian, Indian' and "White Other, e.g. Irish, Welsh, Scottish', were encouraged to put themselves forward.
It does not say that white English cannot apply.
- Brian Ginnity:, Colchester, 01/10/2007 14:34
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This is one of the few gifted students who wants to work for this government. She has got a "environment" and "geography" education so well prepared. Plus she lives locally!
Another example from New Labour's political incorrectness against the English.
- Georgie, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Quite simple, really: European Court of Human Rights. Especially as Brussels is over ruling just about everything that is thrown at them.
- Robert Zimmerman, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Fair enough - but firstly any organisation employing more than the national average of these minorities must actively recruit 'white English ' applicants until the correct ratio is returned
- Nigel, london UK, 01/10/2007 14:34
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It would be interesting to know, just how many white Irish, Scottish and Welsh actually live in the Anglia region. It's safe to assume that compared to white English, it's going to be proportionally lower. That being the case, they are going to have a lower representation down south.
What's the money if we checked the representation in Scotland, Ireland and Wales that it would be that much higher and the English would have fewer employees in the public service. This government is driving the country into the ground with its political correctness. The sooner they're kicked out the better for all of us.
- Neil, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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I've seen this many times before. Public sector employers offer "training courses" with massive "grants" exclusively to minorities because training and bursaries are exempt from anti-discrimination legislation. Thirteen thousand pounds after tax is not a "grant" it's a salary, but if it were advertised as such the agency could be challenged (and thoroughly beaten) in court. I notice that the heading on the EA's advert is "Job Opportunities" so it might be possible to find a court that will call a spade a spade in this case, but I'm sure any judge will be heavily leant on to reach the "right" decision.
- James Smith, Salford UK, 01/10/2007 14:34
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I recently inquired ( over the telephone) about a Government training scheme with one of my sons in mind. I was asked by the person on the other end of the telephone -"What nationality are you"? To which he reeled off a list of different ethnics. I replied that my son was White English to which he replied that this was not on his list ! He said that his list contained white Irish only and that all the others were British. Just about says it all really doesn't it . There apparently is no such thing as a white Scot, Welsh or English!
- Thelma H, Essex, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Sounds ridiculous. And discriminatory. I live in Cambridgeshire and there are many Scots and Welsh folk I know, all gainfully employed. We are all British. Such quotas should apply only to newcomers to this country or those likely to be at the receiving end of discriminatory practises - not traditional Brit groups!
If you live in England, there are many medications available on the NHS in Scotland that are not available to you. If you live in England, you may scrimp and save for prescription charges, but in Wales they are free to millionaires. United Kingdom? I would say not. And those from Scotland and Wales are no more in danger of being discriminated against in England than the English in those two countries.
Perhaps LESS so.
- Ady, Ely, Cambridgeshire, 01/10/2007 14:34
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We are told discrimination is wrong but legislation allowing positive discrimination implicitly allows & encourages negative discrimination against any group not on the favoured list. Could this be an example of 'Double think' , where two mutually contradictary ideas must both be believed at the same time?
This government appears to support institutional discrimination against the majority group in this country. In this topsy turvy world that New Labour has created, where we must believe that what once was OK is now wrong & what once was wrong is now OK.. sometimes we need to believe both at once!
- Keith Simpson, Wareham, England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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My understanding of the law is that this sort of racist discrimination is almost certainly illegal and there is a case for legal action here I think.
A police force in the west country tried the same thing and I believe that legal action was successfully taken against them.
- Charles, Bath, UK, 01/10/2007 14:34
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I love the Environment Agency's warped assumption that Welsh and Scots people are "White".
The terms "Scots" or "Welsh", like "English" refer to UK sub-nationalities, NOT races. You do not have to be white to be any of them - simply to be a full time resident of any of those three countries.
In stating that the Scots and Welsh are white, The Environment Agency is making a racist statement. Racism can be on grounds of nationality, according to the CRE. That's disgusting. AND revealing themselves to be anti-English racists too.
The CRE really needs to talk to them.
- Chris Abbott, Cambridge, England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Is there any other society in the world that puts the needs of non-indigenous people before that of its own?
- Ab, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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This government is dangerously trying to win votes from the foreign people. They already have the English vote!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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I am a white Englishman, yet if I go back far enough I find ancestors from Norway and North Africa in my family tree. As a result, I would like to apply for the job of Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police on the grounds that people of my Anglo-Saxon-Scando-Germanic-Gallic-Moorish-Celtic heritage are woefully under-represented in the police service. Naturally, should I fail to be selected for the post, I will be asking the CRE to take up my case at the court of human rights and get me a settlement of not less than ten million pounds.
What message does all this rubbish send to kids at school today? White kids, in particular, are becoming far more obnoxious these days, is it any wonder when they see this sort of thing happen? Why work for a future you can't have because of an accident of birth? Just skive off, ignore anyone who asks you to do something constructive, then lie back on the dole.
- John Waterfield, London, UK, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Could the reason she didn't get this job be that she didn't even read the job offer properly where it clearly states they are looking to add diversity to a job where the others are predominately white English. If she can't even read the job application properly she shouldn't get the job!
- Daveb, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Welcome to Thatcher's legacy, political correctness has now gone beyond a joke to the point where it's actually causing reverse discrimination, but you can bet that no one in the government will see it that way.
- Pa Roddy, London, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Before we get too carried away with this: there is good authority that the Race Relations Act protects a person from discrimination on the grounds that they are English (as with Welsh, Irish, Scottish)-and of course if they are white. If the application was really turned down on the grounds that Abigail is White English then she sounds to me to have very good grounds for legal action.
- Andrew, London UK, 01/10/2007 14:34
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I am gob-smacked by the case of Abigail Howarth, the teenage science student banned from applying for a training programme with the Environment Agency because she is white and English.
The recruitment agency spokesperson stated “Public-sector organisations have a duty to ensure they reflect the make-up of the society they serve."
That being the case, can you please confirm that all Environment Agency staff with responsibility for ‘flood risk management’ now have to live in places at risk of flooding?
- Ewan Larcombe, Datchet, England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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The English are not protected by any laws in their own country or in the eu.
Which is why this anti English government can discriminate against the English on a daily basis.
Where is the revolution when will the English put a stop to this nonsense?
I would hope the first act of a new English Parliament is to scrap the CRE. Home Rule for England
- Tally, Durham England, 01/10/2007 14:34
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Not to be holier-than-though, but this is one of the many reasons I left Britain in 1991. Here in the US, that sort of conduct is unlawful. Not only is it against almost every state's state law, it is also unlawful under federal law. Furthermore, it is unlawful under our Constitution's equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Here in the US, this victim of political-correctness run amok could obtain legal redress.
- Andrea, Wisconsin, USA, 01/10/2007 14:34
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