Thread by @ukskies

Overt #racism is only the tip of the iceberg. Far more lies hidden, deeply ingrained, suppressed by conscience, a fear of criticism, even shame. Post 2016 referendum we saw how some of this suppression was lifted. #Brexit didn’t make people racist. The ballot box freed it. 1/9

https://twitter.com/ericagoesforth/status/1039779565235838978

Covert, ingrained #racism *is* a huge problem for society. It doesn’t help that we can’t see it, that we don’t allow people to have a voice. UKIP in 2015 had over 12% of the votes cast yet no representation in parliament. That can’t have pleased those who voted for them, 2/9

and yet the size of that vote caused #Cameron & the #Conservatives to run scared, promising us a referendum on the #EU which everyone thought would keep that voice quiet. Instead, it became the platform and enabler for the many years of suppresssion. 3/9

And I put it to you, that, far from a voting system that protects us from #racism, it makes it worse, as it doesn’t have a voice. We *need* to see it to be able to address it. But not on the streets, by violence & thuggery. It needs to be heard where it can be debated. 4/9

People with racist ideas need a place where #racism can be shown up for the absurdity that it is. 5/9

In this global age where we should all be working hard to come together and tackle the *big* issues (a long list here!) it doesn’t help if all the time our enemy, a barrier to tackling all these issues, #racism, remains buried in people’s minds. 6/9

And this, good people of this great country, is why we need a political outlet for those people who are afraid. This is why #Sweden is in a far better position to talk about it. This is why we need to bring in proportional representation. 7/9

Bring it on, I say, so we can start addressing the institutional racism that permeates through many organisations. Until then, it’s not going to go away. No number of laws passed will get rid of it. 8/9

Bring on proportional representation in #Britain. Until we do, and here’s the danger, racism may well get worse, not better. #Brexit is only a symptom. Racism is our sickness. This, good folks, is my prescription. (End)