About Us
Who are we
Liberal Democrats Campaign for Racial Equality (LDCRE) is the group which represents ethnic minorities within the Liberal Democrats.
We exist to campaign for equality for ethnic minority people, both within the party and externally. We aim to promote the party among members of the many ethnic minority communities across our country.
We aim to bring about societal change to eliminate racism in all its forms, collaborating with like-minded organisations and drawing on the ideals and determination of our national party. Our objective is for members from ethnic minorities to enjoy equal rights and live free from discrimination, breaking free from the constraints often imposed by others.
As an officially affiliated organisation of the Liberal Democrats, our full members are also members of the party. We reserve the right to be consulted on issues affecting ethnic minority communities and party policy, and to submit policy motions to the federal party.
The Liberal Democrat Campaign for Race Equality (LDCRE) embraces the Liberal Democrats' aim to build and safeguard a fair, free, and open society, seeking to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality, and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance, or conformity, upholding values of individual and social justice, rejecting all prejudice and discrimination based upon race, colour, religion, age, disability, sex, or sexual orientation, and oppose all forms of entrenched privilege and inequality. In particular, we are committed to eradicating racial inequality.
We acknowledge that the long shadow of our country's colonial past continues to influence the ongoing struggle for racial equality, and that real integration within our society has yet to be achieved. Too many in positions of power and influence, no matter how great or insignificant, fail to recognise that our society has not yet reached the point where positive action is no longer required, nor do they recognise their responsibility to work to bring this about.
Race discrimination continues to harm Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities and individuals across education, health, housing, criminal justice, government, politics, the arts, media, and the workplace.
We accept the definition of institutional racism as defined by the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, which describes it as "the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be observed or identified in processes, attitudes and behaviour that amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping, which disadvantages ethnic people."
We therefore seek societal changes to end all forms of racism, working collaboratively with like-minded organisations and harnessing the ideals and determination of our Party, to ensure equal rights for BAME individuals to live free from discrimination and to break free from the stereotypes often imposed by the majority.
In this way, economic, political, social, and community life will be enriched and improved by genuine diversity, and will illuminate the lasting impact of colonialism and racism.
