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Phillips: 'Give whites positive discrimination'
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor28 Oct 2008
WHITE workers should benefit from "positive discrimination" to help them fend off competition from better-skilled immigrants, equalities chief Trevor Phillips urged today.
Mr Phillips warned Britain risked a surge in far-right extremism unless it took urgent action to target training and skills at people stuck in a new white "underclass".
The chairman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission defied political convention to call for the law to be changed in favour of disadvantaged Britons.
His startling intervention was seen as a rebuke to Equality Minister Harriet Harman, who earlier this year trumpeted plans to make companies discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minorities.
Mr Phillips said ministers should allow councils and education authorities to introduce "positive action" programmes aimed specifically at young whites unable to compete with highly skilled immigrants because the "need is so great".
And he warned that immigration has fuelled "resentments that are real and should not be dismissed resentments felt by white, black and Asian".
Ahead of an appearance at a CBI event on immigration today, Mr Phillips said failure to help white families could drive them into the arms of far-Right parties.
He also warned that ministers needed to acknowledge the resentment by some whites over what they see as unfair help given to blacks and Asians.
Reader views (16)
Trevor Phillips is a racist and i can say that with confidence as i am also a black west indian born in Britain.I have watch continually this newspaper attack again and again polish people who come over here and work hard for their money just like us west indians and africans use to do in the fifties.But us black people no longer want to work hard,we only look for quick get rich schemes and benefits...I challenge trevor to come and say this is not true and i myself would love the opportunity to put speak to Mr Phillips .....leave polish people alone.At least they work hard.
- Colin, london, 31/10/2008 13:02
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This man is either a liar or lives in cloud cuckoo land
We all know that his employment is a guango that has been manufactured for him
The only foreigners that are leaving are them that now have British benefits paid to their bank account so they can live a life of luxury in their own lands at the British taxpayers expense
- John Beatson, sheffield england, 29/10/2008 13:22
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I think this is great. This government supported multiculturalism and so did he. So why the change? They've painted themselves into a corner, and they are now scared, having realised that they may not have got away with this after all. Of course the BNP will do well, they are the only party who would pull out of the EU saving billions, stop all further immigration, deport illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, and make laws that suit us not Brussels. Look around you, we did not vote for this. What were the last two world wars about? it was about saving our identity, culture and security. Not the violent unrecognisable mess we now live in.
- Sylvia Howard, Essex, 29/10/2008 12:50
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So after decades on not listening to the white working classes concerns on mass immigration, the ultra left are now our friends?
Half a century of unchecked mass immigration has detroyed our country and now the same people who let this happen, ingored us and labelled us nazis for raising concerns are the answer?
Laughable
- Lb, London, 29/10/2008 11:08
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The trouble with this known racist coming out with that recommendation is that he is paving the way for positive discrimination demands for the people HE wants to see have that for themselves. Make it positive discrimination for BRITISH people and it would make sense - for WHITE people, its a setup!
- Rogan, Irving, 28/10/2008 14:46
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What 'the poor white underclass' need is some application to upgrading their skills through educational qualifications, not positive disrimination. Otherwise they will not be persuaded to compete on a level playing field.
- Dhanraj, Basildon, 28/10/2008 14:09
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I think Trevor is very astute. He can see that the mood of the country has changed and is now hostile to non-white or even white migrants. He probably feels somewhat insecure and can see that insecurity and frustration amongst white working class brits. The major political parties have failed them so they only have the extremists to turn to.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 28/10/2008 13:50
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All he needed to have said was that employers should discriminate in favour of BRITISH people, whatever colour. This just makes economic sense as the more Brits are employed, the fewer are claiming benefit.
- Claire, London, 28/10/2008 13:17
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Well done Trevor Phillips. I've always believed in Polish jobs for Polish workers, Indian jobs for Indian workers, Nigerian jobs for Nigerian workers, ....... and guess what, British jobs for British workers. Nothing racist in that.
- Jd, London, 28/10/2008 13:15
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Who on earth does this ass think he is? he's one of the people who caused a lot of tension in this country and now he's scared that white people will turn to far-right parties!!!! what the hell did he think was going to happen when whites are being treated like second class citizens in their own country....idiot
- Sarah, London, 28/10/2008 13:08
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So bring in immigrants as cheap labour and then prevent them getting jobs. Or pretend you might in order to reassure the native population.
Must be an election coming up.
- Mike Newland, London, 28/10/2008 12:54
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This ultra left government must be kicked out ASAP! Why do they think it is ok in the UK to discrimate against men and white people / the indiginous population?
Quote "His startling intervention was seen as a rebuke to Equality Minister Harriet Harman, who earlier this year trumpeted plans to make companies discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minorities".
It baffles me why any man and white person could posibably vote for this party. They use to be the voice of the working class, now they are just a bunch of self hating racists, discriminating against 90% of the nation.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK, 28/10/2008 12:39
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There's a big difference between "positive action" and "positive discrimination". The former is legal, the latter is not. Trevor Phillips called for legal moves to train, develop and encourage a particular ethnic group, not for illegal race discrimination.
- Austen, London, 28/10/2008 12:22
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Trevor your comments are utter nonsense.Look in the mirror and tell me what you see.Discrimination of any type is not allowed.
- Fobes, Barnet, 28/10/2008 11:34
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Trevor Phillips is some kind of buffoon. Does he ever think before opening his mouth ? he was better off when he read the news, at least someone else was telling him what to say. The problem of immigration affects everyone already living in this country regardless of their ethnicity - and the competition arises not from better skilled immigrants but from immigrants who will do the same job as Brits for a fraction of the cost and are prepared to live 18 to a room because it's still luxury compared to where they come from.
- Squiz, Islington, 28/10/2008 11:31
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Although this seems like common sense I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before he is made to withdraw these comments. It has always been my personal opinion that the person with the best skills should get the job, not because of their ethnic background or colour of their skin. Trevor Phillips is correct in that currently this country is playing directly into the hands of the far right, with these "racist" current policies.
- Terence Harrington, Canterbury, England, 28/10/2008 10:41
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