Jeremy Corbyn vows to teach schoolkids about evils of British empire in manifesto pledge
JEREMY Corbyn has vowed to teach schoolchildren about the evils of the British Empire as part of Labour's race manifesto launching today.
The Labour leader will set out plans to teach "historical injustice" and Britain's role in slavery and colonialism.
He will also unveil policies on how to combat anti-Semitism in Britain.
The Conservatives said it was "staggering" that Labour has sought to "lecture people" despite facing a huge backlash over its handling of anti-Semitism claims within the party.
Last week, Mr Corbyn unveiled his Marxist manifesto that pledges to introduce £83billion in taxes and is now publishing one that focuses on race and injustice.
He plans to make colonialism and the role of British Empire part of the national curriculum.
Mr Corbyn will also force businesses to report on the pay gap faced by their black, Asian and ethnic minority employees as well as establish a race equality unit in the Treasury.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said it was "staggering" that Labour "see fit to lecture people about race and faith" and pointed to the party's record on anti-Semitism.
'GRIPPED BY ANXIETY'
She said: "It's staggering that Corbyn's Labour see fit to lecture people about race and faith while they are investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for the rampant antisemitism in their ranks.
"Not charging people who want to come to the country for visa and immigration services means UK taxpayers will have to pay instead.
"The bill will be more than £1.5billion, money that could otherwise be spent on schools and hospitals."
Mr Corbyn, who will unveil the document in Tottenham, North London, said Labour was "the party of equality and human rights".
He added: "Our race and faith manifesto presents our unshakeable commitment to challenge the inequalities and discrimination that has faced too many communities."
Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi who represents British Jews in the UK, hit out at Labour saying “the overwhelming majority of British Jews are gripped by anxiety”.
Writing in , he states the “Jewish community has watched with incredulity as supporters of the Labour leadership have hounded parliamentarians, members and even staff out of the party for challenging anti-Jewish racism”.
Proposals in the Labour race and faith manifesto
- Form a "emancipation educational trust" to teach about the "historical injustice" of the British Empire
- The same trust would also teach on migration and legacy of slavery
- Establishing a race equality unit in the Treasury to review spending announcements for their impact on Bame communities
- End "rip-off" charges for passports, visas and tests from the Home Office
- A wide-ranging review into the under-representation of Bame teachers in schools
- An independent review of far-right extremism
He continues: “The way in which the leadership has dealt with anti-Jewish racism is incompatible with the British values of which we are so proud — of dignity and respect for all people.”
He then adds: “Be in no doubt, the very soul of our nation is at stake.”
Mr Mirvis claims at least 130 outstanding anti-Semitism cases are being looked at by Labour and thousands more have been reported but remain unresolved.
A Labour spokesman said: “Jeremy Corbyn is a lifelong campaigner against anti-Semitism and has made absolutely clear it has no place in our party and society.
“The 130 figure is inaccurate and it is categorically untrue to suggest there are thousands of outstanding cases.”
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Dr Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary for the National Education Union (NEU), praised Labour's "set of joined-up proposals to proactively tackle racism".
She added: "The NEU welcomes the proposal for a new emancipation educational trust.
"All young people benefit from learning about how human rights were won and about the struggle against colonialism and racial injustice."
CORBYN’S 12 TAX BOMBSHELLS
- Corporation tax - Companies will now be made to pay a 26 per cent duty
- Unitary tax of multinational companies – Labour believe this will stop large firms transferring their cash out of the UK to countries with low income-tax rates.
- Second homes tax – Corbyn hopes this will help with the homelessness crisis in Britain by charging people with a second property a tax that can go into building new council houses.
- Transaction tax – Corbyn wants people to pay a higher duty on paperless transactions like buying shares in a UK company.
- Reverse of inheritance tax cuts – This means that Brits could now pay more on the estate of a loved one when they die.
- VAT on private schools – Corbyn has vowed to “close the tax loopholes” enjoyed by private schools and use that money to “improve the lives of all children”.
- Windfall tax on oil companies – Labour will enforce a tax on fuel giants who have “knowingly damaged our climate” to “help cover the costs”.
- Income tax for those earning over £80k and £125k – Corbyn has vowed to wage a class war on the country’s wealthy
- Capital Gains tax – Brits will now be taxed more on profit when they sell an asset that has increased in value.
- Dividends tax – Those who have shares in companies will now be forced to pay a higher duty on the payments they receive.
- Scrap Married Person’s Allowance – Brits will no longer benefit from the tax cut which reduced your bill between by between £345 and £891.50 a year.
- New Fair Tax Programme - Corbyn has vowed to “go after the tax dodgers” with a new tax avoidance scheme.