Parliament should publicly and strongly reject the arguments put forward by MPs on unconscious bias

A number of MPs have come out publicly saying that they will not be undertaking parliamentary training on unconscious bias training.

The training is designed to help prevent people from, for example, unwittingly committing microaggressions against specific minority groups or individuals and to help adjust automatic patterns of thinking. The training is part of efforts to make parliament a safe and welcoming place for all to work.

Garry Graham, prospect deputy general secretary, said:

“Black and Asian staff are a minority within Parliament and have reported incidents of different treatment – particularly in terms of accessing certain facilities. It is the duty of the Commission, as the employer of those staff, to defend and promote the training they themselves have commissioned. They must repudiate those MPs who, whether wilfully or not, misunderstand its purpose or disparage its importance.

“Parliament, in the person of the Speaker and/or the Leader of the House, should publicly and strongly reject the specious arguments put forward by these MPs who, whether wilfully or not, misunderstand its purpose or disparage the importance of this training.  All MPs should undertake the training that their own black and Asian employees see as a crucial step in improving their day to day working lives.

“What kind of message does it send to the country if a couple of hours of training is too high a price to pay to demonstrate that tackling racism and unconscious bias is a priority.”