Critics suggested civil servants excluded Kemi Badenoch from the advert because it did not fit their agenda. Photo: GEOFF PUGH
Civil servants working for Kemi Badenoch ran an advert in a controversial magazine celebrating ethnically diverse role models, but did not mention her.
The Business and Trade Secretary is one of 14 ministers cabinet ministers from ethnic minorities in British political history.
But in a job advert published in Black History Month, a magazine that celebrates role models for ethnic minorities, the Department of Business and Commerce named three civil servants but not Ms Badenoch, the black woman who supervises them.
The department's advertisement on page five of the brochure was titled: “Working in a Diverse Global Organization.”
It said: “The Department of Business and Commerce is the department of economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. Our employees live throughout the UK and in more than 100 countries.”
Job advertisement for the Company Business Department and Trade, showcasing its diverse workforce, did not mention Kemi Badenoch
While the ad mentioned three civil servants who co-chair the department's Race, Ethnicity and Heritage (Reach) network – Martine Andersen, Noel Bartels and Natasha Hira – it did not name or picture Ms Badenoch, who has risen through the ranks stairs The Conservative Party has become a favorite among members for its strong views on race.
Critics suggested civil servants dropped it because it did not suit their agenda or the theme of the magazine, which featured two Labor MPs. and a number of activists critical of racism in Britain.
The magazine also praised Reni Eddo-Lodge as “a key voice in contemporary racial discourse” for her book Why I Don't Talk to White People About Race Anymore.
“Perceptions of civil service impartiality matter”A Whitehall source told The Telegraph: “This is an unfortunate example of what happens when well-meaning officials don't understand that decisions made by ministers are scrutinized.”
“Perceptions of the impartiality of the civil service matter.” The impartiality of the civil service is of great importance, so supporting publications featuring figures critical of the government without cross-party representation is futile.”
Alka Segal Cuthbert, an academic and writer and director of the anti-racism group Don't Divide Us, said: “Do Department of Business and Commerce civil servants want to celebrate the achievements of black people or celebrate only those of black people who share certain political views?
“Diversity of political views is far more important to democracy than ethnic or racial diversity.”
Black History Month, the organization that publishes the magazine, came under fire in 2021 after a Telegraph investigation found that it website contains claims that white people are “genetically defective descendants of albino mutants” and also features taxpayer-funded advertising.
The current edition of the annual magazine also has a two-page Home Office article, which features an interview with the deputy director for “equality, diversity and wellbeing” and the “race policy champion and asylum director” but makes no mention of Suella Braverman, who was home secretary. when it was published in September.
The Department of Business and Trade declined to comment.
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