English girl barred from Government job...because she is wrong kind of white

[Aptrgangr]

English girl barred from Government job...because she is wrong kind of white

By MARK NICOL - More by this author » Last updated at 10:27am on 5th August 2007

Comments (22)

A teenage science student has been banned from applying for a training programme with the Environment Agency because she is white and English.
The recruitment agency handling the scheme told Abigail Howarth, 18, that there was no point in her submitting an application because of her ethnic background.
But bizarrely she could have applied if she had been white and Welsh, Scottish or Irish.
Abigail, who wanted to join the Agency's flood management programme, saw an advert in a local newspaper offering positions in the Anglia region where she lives, complete with a £13,000-a-year tax-free grant.


Turned down: Abigail Howarth



It made no mention of the ban on white English applicants, merely noting that candidates from ethnic minorities, such as "Asian, Indian' and "White Other, e.g. Irish, Welsh, Scottish', were encouraged to put themselves forward.
Abigail, of Little Straughton, Bedfordshire, said: "I was really disappointed. To be told being "White English" ruled me out in my home county shocked me. I know why there are positive action training schemes to assist those who are genuinely discriminated against but when it's broken down to this level it seems crazy to me.
"I really wanted to work for the agency and I was very excited - followed by feeling very disappointed.
"I would not have minded had I been beaten for the position by somebody better able than me."

Abigail, who is awaiting the results of A-Levels in environmental science, geography and geology, emailed PATH National Ltd, the company handling applications.
She asked: "Am I correct in assuming that as I am English (White) I need not apply as the preference is for the minorities you have listed, or can I apply anyway?'
Three days later, PATH recruitment officer, Bola Odusi, replied: "Thank you for your enquiry unfortunately the traineeship opportunity in <\[>sic] targeted towards the ethnic minority group to address their under representations in the professions under the Race Relations Act amended 2000."

Such a policy may breach Race Relations legislation as employers must prove ethnic groups are under-represented before using positive discrimination strategies.
The Environment Agency admitted it had 'no evidence that white Welsh, Scottish or Irish workers were under-represented' in the Anglia region.
South West Bedfordshire Tory MP Andrew Selous said: "I think this is complete nonsense and the Environment Agency should be taking the best people, irrespective of their background.

"This is obviously borne out of some idiotic quota system. Abigail should have been able to apply and been judged on her own merits. I will raise this when I have a meeting with the Environment Agency next month."
PATH National's organisational development manager, Mary McDowell, said: "The "White Welsh", "White Irish" and "White Scottish" is a technicality in law - if they are a minority, they are entitled to places on these schemes - they are not part of the majority group, which is "White English".

"The "White English" in this area are the majority group and hence could not apply.
"That is the way the law is laid. This is a chance for people who might be less employable to gain experience, just experience. Public-sector organisations have a duty to ensure they reflect the make-up of the society they serve."
The Environment Agency says 387 of its 12,000 workers claim BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) status. A spokesman added: "The Commission for Racial Equality has confirmed we are acting legally."

A CRE spokeswoman said: "The Commission will be checking with the Environment Agency to clarify the current situation regarding their positive action initiatives.
"Positive action can only be used to encourage or train particular under-represented groups."

English girl barred from Government job...because she is wrong kind of white | the Daily Mail

[Milesian]

Even in a multicultural hell-hole, this is pretty hard to believe.
Once again the Union sinks the boot into it's subject peoples.

[Marcus Marulus]

They are having a kind of "affirmative action" in Britain, or what?

[Susi]

So it would seem. I wonder if it works the opposite in Irish, Scottish, and Welsh initiatives? Doubtful. I'm sure "White English" can't apply for the same thing in one of those countries either. They are too much of a "majority".

[Milesian]

Originally Posted by Susi

So it would seem. I wonder if it works the opposite in Irish, Scottish, and Welsh initiatives? Doubtful. I'm sure "White English" can't apply for the same thing in one of those countries either.

You mean apply for similar jobs in those countries?
I'd be surprised if they couldn't. As for Ireland, well it's not a part of the UK so that's a different question altogether. An English person would be considered a non-national in Ireland anyway, so if there is a similar scheme in Ireland then an English person would very likely hold a similar advantage as any other foreigner in that case.

They are too much of a "majority".

I don't have a problem if a Scottish person gets preference over an English person for a job in a Scottish government agency, or similarly for a Welsh person in Wales for that matter. But then I would expect an English person to get a similar preference in England.

It's another example of multicultural madness, but I don't think it's correct to play it off as if the English are victimised within the UK any more than the other nationalities are. Tbh, if this is the kind of scheme that it appears to be then you'll likely find that a third worlder still has a far better chance of getting the position than a Scot or Welsh person.

Regardless, this story is a good argument in favour of English Nationalism.

[Susi]

Originally Posted by Milesian

You mean apply for similar jobs in those countries?

Yes.

I'd be surprised if they couldn't. As for Ireland, well it's not a part of the UK so that's a different question altogether. An English person would be considered a non-national in Ireland anyway, so if there is a similar scheme in Ireland then an English person would very likely hold a similar advantage as any other foreigner in that case.

I mean the part of Ireland that's stuck in the UK. I think I was just being overly negative with this.

I don't have a problem if a Scottish person gets preference over an English person for a job in a Scottish government agency, or similarly for a Welsh person in Wales for that matter. But then I would expect an English person to get a similar preference in England.

Yes, I would as well. Unfortunately, this isn't the case because the English are blamed for everything ill in the history of the British Isles (and throw in some colonial guilt to round it off). So the English seem to naturally have something like this. I think it will change over time, at least, I hope it will.

It's another example of multicultural madness, but I don't think it's correct to play it off as if the English are victimised within the UK any more than the other nationalities are.

See above example of guilt. The English victimise themselves, at least, it seems so.

Tbh, if this is the kind of scheme that it appears to be then you'll likely find that a third worlder still has a far better chance of getting the position than a Scot or Welsh person.

Probably.

Regardless, this story is a good argument in favour of English Nationalism.

What is a good argument against it?

[Kernunnos]

PATH recruitment officer, Bola Odusi

Recruitment officer is, unsurprisingly, a negra: what would she do but to interrpet the law to favor her kin?

Naive whites who expect immigrants to get to power and behave correctly are served.

When immigrants will be in power position they will discriminate against former owners of the land.

It is obvious but the cretin liberals wanting immigration do not minimally get to conceive it.

[Milesian]

Originally Posted by Susi

Yes.[

I mean the part of Ireland that's stuck in the UK. I think I was just being overly negative with this.

Yes, I think you've overdone the victimist part a little too much there

Yes, I would as well. Unfortunately, this isn't the case because the English are blamed for everything ill in the history of the British Isles (and throw in some colonial guilt to round it off).

England has pretty much held power in the whole Britain farce from the start.
When you are in power, you have to hold responsibility for your actions.
It may not be pleasant, but sometimes you have to be held to account.
Guilt is not pleasant, but what we have to determine is whether it is justified.
I'm afraid you cannot seriously just absolve people from guilt just because you don't like feeling guilty.

Of course it is another thing to then use that guilt to justify other harmful things/

See above example of guilt. The English victimise themselves, at least, it seems so.

the English don't victimise themselves. They never have. It's never been in their nature. Quite the opposite in fact. It is their government which is now victimising them for the purposes of multiculturalism. But this is a relatively recent phenomenon. Of course, the fact that Britain did some pretty bad things in it's time all around the world makes it that much easier to justify the things taking place now. Its called "shooting yourself in the foot" and it's rather tough to argue against.

What is a good argument against it?

I don't know of any. But there are plenty of Unionists who would at least try to give you one

[Señor Malo]

So if we had to apply the same criteria by which she was barred, she would be more successfull if she applied for the same position in Ulster as the selection criteria would be then reversed to:


Applications are encouraged from people of the following descents.Asian,Indian, White other (e.g. English, welsh, Scottish, European), African, Caribbean or of Mixed Race origins.

PATH National's organisational development manager, Mary McDowell, said: "The "White Welsh", "White ENGLISH" and "White Scottish" is a technicality in law - if they are a minority, they are entitled to places on these schemes - they are not part of the majority group, which is "White Irish".

[Susi]

Originally Posted by Milesian

Yes, I think you've overdone the victimist part a little too much there

Yeah, yeah, Irish.

England has pretty much held power in the whole Britain farce from the start.

Need I remind you it was a Scottish king who started it?

When you are in power, you have to hold responsibility for your actions.
It may not be pleasant, but sometimes you have to be held to account.
Guilt is not pleasant, but what we have to determine is whether it is justified.

I think I've made my position clear enough. The English should not remain guilty for their actions forever. I've already stated in other places I believe the union to be detrimental to all parts of it. You should specify some actions for me to actually feel guilty of, apart from the Northern Irish fiasco. I'm a little sick of England not having its own legislative assembly.

I'm afraid you cannot seriously just absolve people from guilt just because you don't like feeling guilty.

Yes, but one can absolve people from guilt after they've felt guilty about things for a long, long time... or do Catholics not believe in forgiveness?

Of course it is another thing to then use that guilt to justify other harmful things

Such as this example in this thread?

[Milesian]

Originally Posted by Susi

Yeah, yeah, Irish.

Meaning?

Need I remind you it was a Scottish king who started it?

Are you referring to James I?
I see where you are coming from but that's a bit of a historical red herring.
The Act of Union took place after the Stuart Dynasty had been deposed.
The reigning monarch at the time of the establishment of the UK was Dutch.

I think I've made my position clear enough. The English should not remain guilty for their actions forever.

Well, I disagree here.
You don't stop being guilty (I think responsible is a more pleasant word) of something because a period of time has elapsed. For instance, if someone is convicted of murder then they do not ever stop being responsible of that act. What happens is that they are punished for a set length of time (unless the death penalty is in effect ) and then they are set free once they have done their time. But they don't ever stop being responsible for that crime. So I think the English should not be eternally punished for something that they have apologised and made some effort for reconcilliation for (still waiting on this ) but I don't think they should be allowed to shirk responsibility for centuries of what basically amounts to genocide - whether in Ireland or wherever else their Imperial designs took them in the world.

To be honest, I think that you'l find that the vast majority of Irish people don't want any kind of compensation. Most don't even want an apology. They just want to be left alone. I don't think they paint a victim mentality anymore than the British propoganda merchants with their images of evil Republican terrorists killing innocent British squaddies who are just making an honest living

I've already stated in other places I believe the union to be detrimental to all parts of it.

You would be right

You should specify some actions for me to actually feel guilty of, apart from the Northern Irish fiasco.

Why would I do that? I don't want your guilt.....even if you actually were English

I'm not sure where I gave the impression that I want English people to walk around feeling individually guilty. Seems to be a recurrent strawman.

I'm a little sick of England not having its own legislative assembly.

Westminister?

Yes, but one can absolve people from guilt after they've felt guilty about things for a long, long time...

This is the crux of the problem. They don't, neither have they tried to set things right. in fact a report by their top brass fairly recently re-emphasised their traditional stance. That they could never forsee a situation where they would ever willingly disengage from Ireland.

or do Catholics not believe in forgiveness?

Only for the repentent

Such as this example in this thread?

Yes, exactly.

[Susi]

Originally Posted by Milesian

Meaning?

Just because the English oppressed the Irish doesn't mean that they're completely innocent of any wrongdoings.

Are you referring to James I?
I see where you are coming from but that's a bit of a historical red herring.
The Act of Union took place after the Stuart Dynasty had been deposed.
The reigning monarch at the time of the establishment of the UK was Dutch.

*throws out history bo