Liberal Democrats have set out 17 policies designed to tackle inequalities faced by Britain’s ethnic minorities.

The proposals formed under five key themes covering social and economic issues are collectively called the Liberal Democrat Race Equality Plan. They are designed to sit alongside the party’s existing policies to tackle race inequalities.

These themes are:

Representation in public life – The role of government and civil society
Creating a modern, diverse and flexible workforce – Barriers to employment
Equality before the law – Crime, justice and civil liberties
Opportunity and freedom – Lifelong education
Equality of access to healthcare
Announcing the proposals Liberal Democrat Race Equality Champion Ibrahim Taguri said:

“The time has come for race equality to be placed at the centre of the political agenda and at the heart of government.

“These seventeen policies are designed to address some of the fundamental obstacles to creating a fairer society and a stronger economy.

“I want to ensure that no future generation endures the poverty, injustices and hardships that I faced growing up.

“My door is open to anyone who wishes to discuss these proposals.”

Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg added:

“Government must strive to level the playing field so that everyone can look to the future and have an equal opportunity to get on in life.

“If this parliament was about reviving the economy, the next will be about rewiring the economy so that it embodies the values of fairness and opportunity, making Britain a place where every person really can get ahead.

“The Race Equality Plan is a significant step towards that and I look forward to its implementation in full.”

To ensure that the plan reflects an open and diverse culture, Ibrahim is inviting people to put forward their views of the proposals outlined in the document below. E-mail your comments and feedback to diversity@libdems.org.uk.