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HomeNewsNeed to promote UK as a diverse and tolerant nation: Kalpesh Solanki

Need to promote UK as a diverse and tolerant nation: Kalpesh Solanki

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So much of what we see around us here and abroad is about highlighting the differences between us and building barriers around our borders to keep people of different faiths and cultures out of our country. We hear politicians promoting divisions and igniting fires of hatred to advance their own cause. We witnessed strong rhetoric around the campaign to leave Europe that has directly translated into violence against minorities and immigrants.

Then we hear the home secretary wanting organisations to list the number of foreign workers they employ. And the health secretary wants more British-trained doctors in the NHS. What message does this government want to give immigrants who have made Britain their home? Is this the modern-day Britain we want the world to see? It’s not the Britain we have become accustomed to living in. And it is not going to help build bridges with new economic partners from India and China.

It has taken decades of hard work to foster good race relations and achieve so much in an effort to make our society fairer, to provide equality for all and to ensure discrimination is dealt with appropriately. Change is the only constant in life. But change has to make our society better. We must learn from mistakes made throughout history and ensure we don’t go backwards and cut ourselves off from the world.

When we look at society, we are surrounded by heroes. People who have excelled in their chosen line of work. People who do amazing things such as saving lives and defending our freedoms. We don’t see surgeons refusing to operate on patients because they are brown, black or white. These are the real-life heroes. Heroes who make our world better. And this is why the GG2 Leadership Awards are so important so we can recognise their great work and take a moment to say thank you for all that you have done. We are proud of people like the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who won the largest personal mandate in British political history. The son of a bus driver who grew up on a council estate has shown everyone what we as minorities can achieve. What a great message his victory sent around the world. That the people of one of the greatest cities in the world have elected a Muslim mayor.

As we celebrate his victory we know there are tough times ahead as Britain negotiates its exit from Europe. Politicians are looking for new friends and seeking trade deals to ensure our prosperity as a nation is unhindered. There is absolutely no doubt that commerce and trade will be a very important part of the equation and private sector organisations will be required to generate employment and wealth to prevent the UK from going into recession.

Organisations with a diverse leadership team can capitalise on these opportunities with speed. It should come as no surprise that more diverse companies and institutions are achieving better performance. Diversity matters because we live in a world that has become deeply interconnected.

When we go to work we pick up a newspaper from an Asian-owned newsagent. We come home late and pick up a meal from an Indian or Chinese takeaway. We have a cold and pick up medicine from an Asian-owned pharmacy. The NHS survives on the invaluable contribution from doctors, surgeons, dentists and nurses from the Asian, black and European communities. More than half of construction workers building London’s new homes are from Europe. This is the Britain we know and this is the Britain we want to excel in the 21st century, leading the way with talent from all communities to engineer space travel, build driverless cars and save lives. So let’s embrace change and unite to help each other achieve greater success together. Division weakens us – but in unity there is strength.

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