1997 - 2001

1997 Nine black MPs elected in general election: Dianne Abbott, Paul Boateng, Bernie Grant, Piara Khabra, Keith Vaz, Marsha Singh, Mohammed Sarwar, Ashok Kumar and Oona King.

1999 The Macpherson enquiry into the killing of Stephen Lawrence described the police service as infected with institutional racism. Three people are killed and 139 injured in nail-bomb attacks on London's ethnically diverse communities of Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho. British National Party member David Copeland later charged and convicted of the attacks.

2001 Race riots rock Oldham, Burnley, Stoke and Bradford.

September 2001 Racial tensions rise following the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States of America.

Main Sources for the Timeline

http://www.blacknet.co.uk/history/19th.html
http://www.britkid.org/si-postwartimeline.html
http://www.observer.co.uk/Print/0,3858,4306731,00.html
Rex, J. & Tomlinson, S (1979) Colonial Migrants in a British City