“It is not enough to avoid racism, we must be anti-racist” – that was the message that resounded from councillors in Reading at a recent meeting.
Reading Borough councillors have adopted an anti-racism statement expressing their commitment to tackling racial inequality.
The statement was introduced in a motion by councillor Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood) involves a commitment to changing systems and structures at the council, challenging racist behaviour, and addressing microaggressions and subtle bias.
He said: “Reading is a diverse and vibrant borough, but we must be honest, racism, whether overt or subtle, individual or institutional, still persists.
“We must acknowledge that racism goes beyond deliberate acts and can also be unconscious, unintentional and indirect.”
The motion also included a note of thanks to former Labour councillors Sophia James and Ayo Sokale on the matter, and a March 2024 motion supporting Black women.
Cllr Anne Thomspon (Liberal Democrats said: “This is a motion and plan that shows real ambition, and it’s something I’m sure we all wholeheartedly support, so thank you for proposing this in-depth strategy, that I think will benefit us, the council, and it will clearly benefit our town as well.
“I think we overlook so much talent in the town because of biases not unseen, maybe biases that people are unaware of, we need to challenge that so that we can make the best of all of our people.”
The motion was supported by cllr Rob White (Green, Park) and the other Green councillors.
Cllr Ama Asare (Labour, Thames) said: “It reflects our shared values, strengthens our responsibilities as a council, and sends a clear message that Reading stands united against racism.
“This is a commitment to action, accountability and building a fairer future for all.”
Cllr Wendy Griffith (Labour, Battle) said: “We must be absolutely clear in our ambition, we are an anti-racist council.
Inside the council, it means looking honestly at ourselves, our culture, our leadership, our policies and our decision making.
“It means addressing disparities in recruitment, progression, and representation, it means creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.”
Deputy leader Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) supported the motion’s commitment to action, not words.
However, this point was disputed by cllr Raj Singh (Conservative, Kentwood), who said: “I have to ask, are we really saying that we are not already doing this?
He also questioned whether the lives of Black women had improved since the March 2024 motion.
Cllr Singh said: “From what I see, these are still words, not backed by real action.
“Let me tell you about reality. “An Asian couple running a small business in our town, their rates have gone up from £1,800 to £2,600 this year.
“They are struggling, they do not feel heard, seen or valued.
“A pensioner of African heritage caring for her disabled husband received £700 in parking fines; she does not feel heard, seen or valued.
“Communities don’t need words, they need action. What we should be focusing on is social mobility.”
He also pointed out that such motions tend to be introduced at election time.
Replying, Liz Terry (Labour, Coley) said: “I have White privilege, people of colour can find it very difficult to get on, because people just see that first.
“They don’t see the person, the skill set, the ability, the ambition.
“We need to tackle that, it’s not enough anymore to say we won’t discriminate, or ‘I’m not a racist’, we have to be anti-racist.”
Meanwhile, cllr Isobel Ballsdon (Conservative, Caversham Heights) gave an anecdote of how a mum in her felt that she was scared for her childrens’ safety in the town centre as they are White Jews.
She said: “The woman gets her children to hide their Jewish background to try and prevent them from being attacked because of their Jewishness.”
The motion was unanimously approved at the full council meeting on March 24.
