I have written to Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of State for Education, to express my views and urge him to act on promoting the teaching of Black British history in the national curriculum.

Black British people and other minority groups have of course made immense contributions to the UK. I firmly believe that we need to value these contributions more and that incorporating a broader and more representative history into the national curriculum would be beneficial, as would expanding teaching on Britain’s colonial past. It would be one effective way to combat the racial tensions that we continue to see and to encourage social cohesion. Ultimately it could help us build a more informed, better and fairer society.

I am calling for prompt, meaningful and decisive steps towards a more rounded and diverse national curriculum, including the incorporation of Black British and colonial history.

Olivia Blake MP