THE Redbridge Race Equality Council has backed London Mayor Ken Livingstone's call for a strong representation of ethnic minority members in the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR).

Plans for the CEHR are currently being debated in the House of Commons as part of the Equality Bill.

The CEHR will be made up of several bodies each representing a minority strand - race, faith, gender, age, disability and sexuality. As such the existing Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) will be abolished.

However, both Mr Livingstone and Cllr Ralph Scott, an executive committee member sitting on the Redbridge Race Equality Council, believe progress in race relations must not be stalled by the new move.

Cllr Scott said: "Among black and Asian groups there has been great concern that issues relating to race may be diluted within a merged commission. We're seeking reassurances that many of the people on the race commission will be from ethnic minority backgrounds."

More than 100 groups and individuals have added their names to a statement calling for these guarantees.

Mr Livingstone said: "Racism is still very real in the UK. The BNP vote grew eight-fold at the last general election. Those directly affected by discrimination and inequalities should be able to speak for themselves."

Mr Livingstone has also called for the new commission to be based in London.

Cllr Scott urged all Londoners to support the Mayor's ideas in principle, if not in full.' He added: "I think that race equality issues are far better addressed in London than they are in other parts of the country. You only have to go to smaller towns locally, such as Southend, to see how many problems they have with race issues. Here in Redbridge things are very good.

"People in London have been used to living side-by-side with people of other origins for years."

A Department for Trade and Industry spokeswoman said: "We recognise the importance of ensuring the new commission is able to carry on the work of the CRE in delivering on race equality.

"We listened carefully to the concerns expressed by some black minority ethnic communities and the CRE during the White Paper consultation.

"We've made some substantial changes as a result, including strengthening the commission's independence to determine its own criteria for supporting individual cases, and a requirement that the board include individuals with experience and knowledge of race discrimination."

cstong@london.newsquest.co.uk