The Labour Party today sent Labour Matters a press release from Harriet Harman in which she claims that Trevor Phillips is "simply wrong" to claim that the "political machine" would prevent a person of colour reaching the top post in UK politics.

Whilst others have published what Harriet had to say, Labour Matters has exclusively also published the justification for believing that Labour is the Party of equality, here's a taster:

There is a growing list of right-wingers, who are calling Barack Obama "uppity". Yes that's right, uppity.

Ironic when right-wingers are supposed to support meritocratic policies.

My background on my mum's side is from Arkansas, so I know how often the word uppity is combined with "nigger".

On our side of the Atlantic, Richard Littlejohn and Fraser Nelson have so far called Barack Obama uppity.

Andrew Sullivan has highlighted many GOP politicians who are also calling Senator Obama uppity.

Whatever you think of Obama, we all know he is the first serious non-white contender for the presidency. When there are right-wingers who dismiss a black man who is a success story, and a role model for many black people trapped in poverty in the US, it only makes it ok for some black people to see successful black people as "coconuts". That is not good for integration in the US, reducing poverty in the US, or for social mobility in the US.

But the effect Obama has on many black people I know, suggests that there could be a similar impact here for many black people to succeed.

BTW I'm not at all stereotyping. It is just that people in poverty are disproportionately from a minority background.

I wrote this essay from a Liberal perspective and would not usually post it on Labourhome, however, I feel it's content just as important to social democrats as it is Liberals. there is a need for us to defend political correctness and I do not feel that need is being met in either quantity or quality. Discrimination and prejudice hurts everyone and political correctness is there to combat this. This needs to be explained, I hope I did an OK job.

A certain nauseous feeling always arises, when in my sister's car. It is always when we enter Total petrol station. It is not the scent of the petroleum that gives me a sickly feeling. It is in fact, the notion, that the Prime Minister of Burma is under house arrest, as her citizens cannot afford the fuel and food costs of the illegal government under the nom de jeure of Myanmer. A government that spends more on military processions than the welfare of Burmese people. A vile regime based on supernatural jingoism, enfused with pseudo-communism.

The Daily Mail has a reputation for insidious racism and xenophobic propaganda, however, this leaked email from features writer Diana Appleyard illustrates the extent of the Mail's cynicism.

Diane Abbott has tabled an Early Day Motion to condemn Boris Johnson’s use of language.

Last week, Boris Johnson said that criticism of his reference to Black people as “piccaninnies” was a “put up job”.  Today, the New Nation newspaper  asked leading figures in the Black community whether he is right.

A Conservative front-bencher has caused outrage after claiming that being called a "black bastard" is part-and-parcel of life for ethnic minorities in the Armed Forces.

I was a Tory for a number of years, and unless all my former colleagues have dropped dead or defected to the BNP within the past couple of years I can confirm that the party is stuffed with rabid racists.