This morning the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions gave a full and frank assessment of the state of ethnic minority employment in Britain today at the Fair Employment conference on equality, diversity in the workforce and reducing employment gaps in the public and private sector. The conference was also addressed by TMP editor, Chuka Umunna (in his capacity as an employment lawyer), Baroness Prosser, new Deputy Chair of the CEHR and many others.

Hutton said that the employment gap between ethnic minorities and the population as a whole stood at 14% which he said was “simply unacceptable for society as a whole and cohesion”. Hutton admitted that the government was “making progress but it is not quick enough or profound enough”. He identified three key action areas for the government: providing support for working families, more emphasis on welfare policies targeted at those most in need and tackling discrimination. Click here to read the speech.