George Monbiot is right (These riots are more than thuggery: they’re the outcome of 14 years of Tory race-baiting, 6 August), but the rot of governmental responsibility lies much deeper. As I pointed out over 20 years ago in my book Racism in Europe, extreme rightwing thugs had remained politically isolated until provided with some legitimacy by governments that themselves turned to anti-immigrant rhetoric. Both major parties, including Labour with its Immigration and Asylum Act of 1999, systematically created a hostile environment.
Immigrants were presented as problematic, a parasitic drain on the welfare state, rather than as major contributors to national wealth and a dynamic, rich culture. Unfortunately, heavier policing cannot provide a quick fix for street violence. The government needs to reverse its “Fortress Britain”, tough-on-immigration position to contain the further advance of Nigel Farage and xenophobia.
Neil MacMaster
Norwich
• George Monbiot is right to highlight how Islamophobia and other forms of racism have been facilitated. In addition to pointing to the actions of our national broadcaster and inaction of Ofcom, we should add the inaction of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
After Sayeeda Warsi pointed to flaws in the report of a Conservative party inquiry into Islamophobia and said the EHRC should carry out an independent investigation, it chose not to use its statutory powers to do so.
This failure of EHRC’s leadership, and its lack of independence, in part explain why politicians can still go on television and say people should be arrested for saying “Allahu Akbar” and expect not be challenged, but also expect to garner support from their party. We need a truly independent regulator to ensure equality laws are implemented without fear or prejudice.
Jabeer Butt
CEO, Race Equality Foundation
• This is the pus oozing from the lanced boil of 14 years of Tory mismanagement and the demonising of minority groups. The upside of this painful surgical procedure is that a brighter future lies ahead. Keep the faith.
Paddy Eckersley
Woodbridge, Suffolk
• I fully concur with George Monbiot writing that the last 14 years of Conservative encouragement and the language used has leadled to where the country finds itself today. However, he makes a glaring omission by not mentioning Brexit and the division caused during, and since, the referendum.
Margot Crookshank
Hove, East Sussex
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