Mum Carole Newbigging has branded a council job advertisement "racism in reverse" after it ruled out white applicants.

Her 16-year-old son, Jamie, was keen to apply for the job as an apprentice carpenter and joiner with Oxford City Council.

But when he looked at the small print, the Matthew Arnold School, Oxford, pupil found he was not allowed to apply. The ad said: "Applicants must be from one of the following community groups: African, Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Chinese." Mrs Newbigging, of Poplar Grove, Kennington, said: "Does the council not consider this racism in reverse?"

"I can see why they want applicants from particular ethnic groups but to exclude an application from a 16-year-old on the grounds of his colour is giving out the wrong message - it is against racial harmony."

The advertisement, in the Oxford Mail's sister paper The Oxford Times, followed a report which revealed that less than two per cent of employees in city works, the council's maintenance department, were black.

Concerned councillors ordered managers to double the number of non-white staff within two years. Bob Block, city council chief executive, said in a statement: "Following discussions with Oxfordshire Racial Equality Council, this council is taking positive action to increase the number of employees from different community groups in our City Works department.

"This apprenticeship scheme offers an excellent opportunity for people from different ethnic backgrounds to gain training as carpenters and joiners."

Story date: Friday 14 May

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