The virulent attacks on the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should not be isolated and seen as heated anger on the eve of elections. They resonate with the killing of so many people of African descent in recent years.

Following the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, it is concerning that these very groups are not a higher priority for the vaccine rollout as access to this is only set to increase that divide.

The unequal impact of the pandemic on African and Asian heritage groups goes beyond infection and mortality rates. Research has shown that people from these backgrounds are likely to be worse affected by the lockdown.

This is a joint statement to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, by Black South West Network (BSWN) and Bristol’s Commission on Race Equality (CoRE).

Covid case numbers have been rising rapidly across the UK and the government has therefore introduced another lockdown in order to control the spread of the virus.