Downing Street files released by the National Archives under the 30 year rule reveal that David Cameron's chief policy advisor once told Margaret Thatcher not to bother introducing community schemes to help deprived black communities affected by race riots in the 1980s.
Oliver Letwin was a young advisor in Margaret Thatcher's policy unit at the time. He is now Cameron's senior policy advisor.
Oliver Letwin's "apology" is the classic "I'm sorry if you're upset" non-apology.
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) December 30, 2015
In October 1985, home secretary, Douglas Hurd, warned the Prime Minister that alienated youths living in predominantly black communities on inner city estates were "a grave threat to the social fabric of the country."
Willy Wonka has a little question for Oliver Letwin pic.twitter.com/qMGKPRGMq3
— Will Black (@WillBlackWriter) December 30, 2015
Two government ministers, Lord Young and Kenneth Baker, followed up the warning with a proposal to invest in schemes to encourage young black entrepreneurs in communities hit by riots set up businesses and find jobs.
One last note on that Letwin affair. For balance Douglas Hurd, Lord Young and Ken Baker argued for improvements in black communities
— David McQueen ♕ (@DavidMcQueen) December 30, 2015
However, the newly released memo reveals that Oliver Letwin, told Margaret Thatcher to reject any business assistant schemes, warning that a US$14 million (£10m) program to tackle inner-city problems would just "subsidize Rastafarian arts and crafts workshops."
Instead of blaming the riots on social deprivation and racism, Letwin blamed the unrest on "bad moral attitudes."
TBH who cares if Oliver Letwin thought black people had 'bad moral attitudes' why should we trust his standard of morality? @LBC
— Naomi Actually (@naomi_actually) December 30, 2015
The memo also states: "Riots, criminality and social disintegration are caused solely by individual characters and attitudes. So long as bad moral attitudes remain, all efforts to improve the inner cities will founder."
Letwin and future Conservative MP Hartley Booth also said the money would end up being spent on drugs.
"[Lord] Young's new entrepreneurs will set up in the disco and drug trade; Kenneth Baker's refurbished council blocks will decay through vandalism combined with neglect; and people will graduate from temporary training or employment programs into unemployment and crime", the letter states.
Disco and Drug Trade pic.twitter.com/Emu5ZuzAOs
— Jo Kali (@jo_kali) December 30, 2015
Letwin: "New entrepreneurs will end up in the disco and drug trade" Perhaps Osborne would like to comment pic.twitter.com/KzW8cS7FTa
— Tony Blampied (@AntonyBlampied) December 30, 2015
Almost 30 years after the race riots erupted and government assistance to rebuild communities was blocked — riots erupted once again in deprived inner cities accross Britain in 2011.
A report titled '5 days in August: an interim report on the 2011 English riots', published following the disorder and compiled by a panel of community relations, law and family experts, resonates with the proposals suggested 30 years ago by Kenneth Baker and Lord Young.
The report states: "Some people get to 14 or 15 years old without ever being told they're good at anything. They feel a sense of worthlessness."
When you go to school in a ghetto, it's no surprise that you don't know how the others live. #OliverLetwin pic.twitter.com/lGySygMvKR
— Snowy Christmas (@UndercoverMutha) December 30, 2015
"The absence of hopes and dreams amongst many we spoke to is a danger for society. We need young people who are able to improve their education, get a job that fulfils their ambitions and allows them to achieve their potential," the report said.
The report also found that in 70 percent of the towns and cities in which the riots had erupted, 30 percent were in the most deprived parts of England.
"This contributes to an overall picture linking the riots and deprivation which requires further exploration," the report states.
Exploration that will be carried out by the current government on the advice from someone who once told a Prime Minister not to bother helping deprived black communities.
@David_Cameron Are you going to apologise to the UK for the disgraceful racist comments made by MP #OliverLetwin?
— Imy Jones (@wageslavrey) December 30, 2015
Oliver Letwin has apologized "unreservedly" for the advice he gave to Margaret Thatcher 30 years ago but others are calling for him to resign.
I thought Oliver Letwin was just Thatcher's whatever 30 years ago, but he has a current job with this government, from which he must resign.
— Louise Ann Davies (@louanndavies) December 30, 2015
Desmond Jaddoo, entrepreneur and former housing minister for Birmingham City Council told the Birmingham Post: "The most alarming matter for me is that some of those historic views are still in government today."
