LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said he prefers to keep the term BAME to represent people of colour in the UK.
Khan said the abbreviation - which stands for black, Asian and minority ethnic – is used as a term of "strength rather than weakness".
Khan told Eastern Eye on Wednesday (8): "I think the umbrella term BAME is very important for representing people of colour. There are different races of people, and different backgrounds.
“And what we don't want is the umbrella term to mask some of the challenges there are within different communities.”
His remarks come after broadcasters BBC and ITV said they would ban the use of the term following recommendations by broadcaster Lenny Henry.
An industry report published by the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) highlighted that BAME is used as a catch-all to describe all non-white groups; however, the report concluded that the term fails to distinguish differences between the groups.
Khan said, “BAME has got a very important role to play as an umbrella term, but also let's not be embarrassed about talking about people of Pakistani heritage or people who are African Caribbean, people of Hindu faith, etc. We are a diverse city, a diverse country, I think it’s a strength not a weakness.”
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Viacom CBS UK have all agreed to avoid using the term in their content and communications.
Curator Emma Slocombe with ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
View of the entrance to Blickling Hall on a rainy autumn dayAmit Roy 
Kente cloth from Ghana in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall 
Decoration in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Palampore fragment made in coastal south-east India in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Bed valance dating from early 1700s in the Italian Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room with Indian carpet in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Karun Thakar has picked out the geometric patterns in the bookcase and the Kente cloth in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Large tapestry depicting Peter the Great defeating the Swedish army at the Battle of Poltava in 1709 Amit Roy 
ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas made by women provide contrast to the men only portraits in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas in the entrance Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
Baghs and Kanthas in the Great Hall in harmony with stained glass window at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Kimonos reflect Japanese influence in Upper Ante Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Kimono in Upper Ante Room in Blickling Hall 
A view of the Palace and fort at Agra shows romantic side of India Amit Roy 
Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Table carpet, European 1670-1680 Amit Roy 
Unfinished 17th century Italian embroidery in the Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Picture of Kashmir shows a romantic view of India Amit Roy 
A panel of Ashburnham bed hangings made in Gujarat for sale in Europe in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Colcha made in the 1600s by women in Bengal for the Portuguese market in the Long Gallery at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
