Minister goes in search of reconnection

COMMUNITIES Minister John Denham visited South Yorkshire yesterday as part of the Government's new bid to reconnect with white working class voters before a general election.

Mr Denham recently made an announcement saying that the Labour party wanted to help the "traditional working class communities" which had been hit hard during the recession.

He spent yesterday morning in three areas of Barnsley which have already benefited from a grant under the Department of Communities' 12m Connecting Communities programme.

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According to the Government, grants made under the scheme should help people in working class areas get involved in local decision-making by providing information about how councils and other public bodies work.

Speaking ahead of the visit, a Department of Communites and Local Government spokesman said: "Mr Denham will visit Athersley and New Lodge where he will meet with local residents, local councillors, community leaders and front-line staff. He will hear about the work underway to address disillusionment among some local residents that may leave some feeling they have little control in decisions and issues affecting them.

"This includes the council running 'how your town works' workshops for local residents which is giving them the skills, knowledge and confidence to be involved in their neighbourhood and shape local decisions and services."

Mr Denham's visit coincided with an announcement that 50 more neighbourhoods across the country are set to join the Connecting Communities programme.

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He said an additional 20m will be available to continue and extend Connecting Communities work next financial year.

He said: "New trends are emerging linked to the way that race and class together shape people's lives and this makes the situation much more complex.

"That does not mean that we should reduce our efforts to tackle racism and promote race equality but we must avoid a one dimensional debate that assumes all minority ethnic people are disadvantaged.

"The landscape has changed and we have to make sure that our efforts are tackling problems of today and not those of the past.

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"We are committed to tackling inequality and disadvantage wherever it exists.

"If the cause is racism and discrimination we will challenge racism and discrimination.

"If the cause of disadvantage is social class, we will promote opportunity."