As the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) launches its manifesto for the next Scottish Parliament, new research shows that Scotland's diverse voters are united in what they want from their politicians.

The research, which will be outlined at the CRE's manifesto launch today (Wednesday 7th February), examined the motivations and barriers to political participation across different ethnic groups in Scotland. In a snapshot survey of over 300 people in Scotland researchers found that:

• When asked to consider the most important policy issues facing Scotland today, improving standards of education and cutting crime were consistently seen as key issues across all ethnic groups;
• People get involved in politics because they want the views of their community to be counted - 80% of Pakistani respondents, 77% of respondents falling into the Other category, 71% of White respondents, 65% of Indian respondents, 65% Chinese respondents and 50% of eastern Europeans said they participated in politics because the wanted the views of their community to be counted.
• Voting in elections is the most popular form of political participation -
  74% of respondents intended to vote compared to 63% who have donated money to a charity or campaign group and 57% that have signed a petition.
• Focus group participants felt that current levels of representation from ethnic minorities were 'tokenistic.'
• Lack of time to get more involved in politics, politicians failing to successfully communicate with communities, and the fear of racism were the main barriers to participation highlighted by focus groups.
• Download the emerging findings from this research (pdf, 31kb)

Addressing a panel of politicians at the launch of the CRE's manifesto, Maximising Scotland's Potential, in Edinburgh for the first time since becoming CRE Chair, Professor Kay Hampton will say:

Scotland is at a pivotal moment in its development. Historically a country of emigration, it is now a country of immigration, with a population that is becoming increasingly diverse on ethnic lines.

Ethnic diversity brings with it huge challenges and stark realities about our society. Racial inequalities persist across every area of Scottish life - from our labour market to our public services. These inequalities affect us all.

If individuals cannot get a job or cannot get promoted, simply because of their ethnicity, there is less money in the system to pay our taxes or to stimulate economic growth. If our schools do not enable all our young people to develop to their full potential, it is Scotland's future that will suffer.

The CRE has commissioned research which shows that there is a strong sense, across all ethnic groups, that people want the views of their community to be counted. What the research we've commissioned also shows that people do not want tokenism - they do not want policy-makers to put them in a box marked with their ethnicity. What they want is for the issues they face to be addressed.

Our political leaders can achieve this genuine representation, but only by taking a new approach. And that approach sees race equality not as a tick-box exercise on the back page of thick documents, and not as a minority concern. It is an approach that sees race equality at the heart of politics, embedded at the core of policy.

If politicians continue to try and address racial inequalities through short term projects, we will fail to build a strong foundation for a healthily diverse and integrated society. What we need from the world of politics is leadership that demonstrates why equality of opportunity for all matters, and leadership which looks not just at solving today's problems but which seeks to prevent racial inequalities occurring in the first place.

For more information, or to request an interview, please contact Harriet Hall on 0131 524 2000 / 07979 594 128

Notes to editors

• The CRE was set up under the Race Relations Act (1976). Our main duties are to: work towards the elimination of racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity; encourage good race relations and monitor the workings of the Race Relations Act.
• Professor Kay Hampton has been the CRE's Commissioner for Scotland since 2002. She was appointed Chair of the CRE in December 2006.
• The GB-wide media release about the speech is available by clicking on the following link:
• Read the GB-wide release
• The CRE's manifesto, Maximising Scotland's Potential, highlights five areas: leadership, prosperity, education, public services and integration in which the Scottish Parliament needs to make the most urgent progress on race equality and describes actions that politicians could take to bring about change. The manifesto is available to download here:
• Maximising Scotland's Potential (pdf, 217kb)
• The research was conducted by the Centre for Public Policy at Northumbria University for the CRE in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness between December and January. Researchers conducted of 308 street surveys with respondents from all of the following groups: Chinese, Indian, Eastern European, Pakistani, White and Other ethnic groups; and four ethnically homogenous focus groups were conducted with communities, one in each city. The full report of this research will be published after the elections and will be available free from the CRE website.
• The manifesto launch will be held at the Holyrood Hotel, 81 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh between 6:15pm and 9:00pm. You are welcome to send reporters/photographers. The programme for the event is as follows:
  
  6:15pm Audience arrives
  
  6:45pm Welcome and manifesto launch - Kay Hampton CRE Chair
  
  6:55pm Addressing racial inequalities and encouraging integration: priorities for the next 4 years -chaired by Fiona Ross
  
  - Opening remarks from the panel
  
  - Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Jamie McGrigor MSP
  
  - Scottish Green Party - Robin Harper MSP
  
  - Scottish Labour Party - Anas Sarwar PPC
  
  - Scottish Liberal Democrat Party - Donald Gorrie MSP
  
  - Scottish National Party - Kenny MacAskill MSP
  
  - CRE - Kay Hampton
  
  7:10pm Questions to be put by audience members to the panel
  
  8:25pm Final remarks from each panel member