On Sunday 8th November, a leading thinktank has demanded that the Government provides more support for the Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) communities. Appeals by the Runnymede Trust appear in light of a YouGov poll which found that BAME people are about a third more likely than the white British population to say that their finances have suffered as a result of coronavirus.
According to the YouGov poll 45% of people from BAME communities said their personal finances had suffered as a result of the pandemic, the figure among white respondents was 34%. In the meantime, 54% BAME people were also more likely to be worried about their job security as opposed to 47% white people. 56% BAME respondents were concerned about prospects for career progression as opposed to 45% white. The poll had reportedly surveyed 2,665 people of which over 500 respondents were from BAME backgrounds. The BAME community has been doubly disadvantaged during the pandemic suffering both financial and health loss.
Speaking to The Guardian, Alba Kapoor, Runnymede Trust, said, “This data is yet more evidence that black, Asian and ethnic minority communities are being left defenceless whilst bearing the brunt of Covid-19. We already know that BAME people are more likely to work in low-paid, precarious jobs and to live in poverty. It is extremely alarming to see how the pandemic is worsening these pre-existing inequalities.
“The government can’t turn a blind eye on this any longer. We urgently need more to protect black, Asian and ethnic minority communities, who face profound financial uncertainty during this time. The Runnymede Trust is clear that immediate action must be taken to strengthen the social security safety net and increase statutory sickness pay, as well as to address the underlying economic injustices in our society.”
