Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Historical Discrimination in Boxing — [Mr Peter Bone in the Chair]

08 June 2022 · 2 other contributors · 3,241 words

Opened by Gerald Jones Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare

Responding minister: Nigel Huddleston

Culture, Media & Sport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Gerald Jones raised concerns about historical discrimination in boxing — [mr peter bone in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Cuthbert Taylor, a local boxing legend with over 500 bouts, was prevented from competing for professional titles due to the British Boxing Board of Control's colour bar rule.
  • The colour bar rule mandated that boxers must have two white parents to compete, lasting from 1911 to 1948.
  • The Minister commits to writing to the British Boxing Board of Control to seek an apology for the discrimination faced by Cuthbert Taylor.

Key requests to Government

The Minister is asked to join me in calling on the British Boxing Board of Control to engage with Cuthbert Taylor's family and right this historical wrong by offering a long-overdue apology.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Gerald Jones Lab Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare

Cuthbert Taylor was a local sporting legend who, despite having over 500 bouts and being described as 'the best in Europe', never received the same recognition due to the British Boxing Board of Control's colour bar rule which prevented boxers with mixed-race backgrounds from competing for professional titles. The rule was in place between 1911 and 1948, stating that fighters had to have two white parents to compete. Taylor's family has been campaigning for an apology from the British Boxing Board of Control, but they have refused engagement.

Other contributors (2)
  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Mr Shannon drew attention to the case of Rhys McClenaghan, who faces discrimination in competing for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth games due to his previous representation of Ireland. He asked if immediate action could be taken similar to what is sought for Cuthbert Taylor. Thanked the Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, expressing hope that their combined efforts can address historical discrimination issues as per the Belfast agreement. Requested to be kept informed about progress.

  • Navendu Mishra Lab Stockport

    Mr Mishra recognised Len Johnson, a famous Manchester boxer who held the British Empire middleweight title and campaigned against racial discrimination in boxing. He invited Mr Jones and the Minister to acknowledge Len Johnson's contribution to sports and his fight for racial equality. Welcomed the Minister's comments on inclusion in boxing and discussed ongoing racism issues in cricket, expressing that the Government did not go far enough. Asked for comments on the lack of progress for people of colour in cricket and governance issues.

Government Response

Nigel Huddleston

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Bone. I thank the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Gerald Jones) for securing a debate on this subject again. I fully appreciate the frustration felt over Cuthbert Taylor's discrimination case and will write again to the BBBofC for an apology. The prohibition against boxers of colour between 1911 and 1948 was blatantly racist; we must not ignore uncomfortable truths about past discrimination. Today, boxing is diverse, with high-profile athletes from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Women's boxing has seen significant progress since Nicola Adams won the first female Olympic boxing gold in 2012, including a historic fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano at Madison Square Garden. Sport needs to look back on its history, acknowledge past events, and take responsibility for them. We expect entities receiving public funding to be inclusive and open to all; if they are not, they will not receive public money. We published the results of an equality, diversity, and race review in January this year which made several recommendations around training, leadership, and culture. The report found that racism and racial inequalities still exist within sport in the UK. Updates on progress towards addressing these issues are being provided every six months. I have called for a review of the code for sports governance with a focus on equality and diversity, and updates to this code place an increased emphasis on diversity in decision making and ensuring organisations reflect the community they serve. The updated code requires sports organisations to produce individual diversity and inclusion action plans which must be agreed by Sport England and/or UK Sport and published annually. I am committed to keeping the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) informed of developments regarding the Commonwealth Games and gymnastics.

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