Racism or Sexism do not create the main glass ceiling in this country. It is still the CLASS system that divides us the most. If the stranglehold of Oxbridge and the public school sector, in the levers of power could somehow be symbolically transformed we would have the equivalent cathartic reaction

Mike Gilfillan, Newcastle, UK

Perhaps the 'racism' is in Mr Phillips

Alec Depledge, BRIGG, United Kingdom

Surely Labour cannot believe it can combat endemic prejudice by 'continually reviewing its procedures'.

Arthur Rolfe, London, UK

I think it's time Mr Phillips got out a bit more.

Howard Gethin, Moscow, Russia

oh my goodness, i seriously dont understand this article or what its trying to insinuate...

Nipho, newport,

Trevor Phillips cannot do a 'thing' about it.
You complain to him and will he fight for you ?

Dr N C ADDY , Hempstead, Kent

If by some miracle we produced an aspiring candidate with the intelligence,charisma and eloquence of Barack Obama,I am pretty sure that he would beat the system and get elected,Sadly our existing ethnic MPs are mediocre.ABILITY should be be the qualifier Mr Phillips,not race,religion,or quotas.

Liz Roberts, Northwich, Cheshire

Onya Trev!!! I never thought about it until you raised it, but what chance has an Aussie got of running Britain, or even ruling the Royal family? Let alone a Kiwi!!! How many British MP's are from Tasmania?? Institutional racism if I ever saw it.

Steve, Adelaide, Australia

You could say we had our Obama in 1874 with Disreali

Paul, Southampton, UK

Sir Trevor is right, we need a Black Queen of England!

Mohammed, London, UK

If someone smashes the glass ceiling over my white head, that might be assault.

If you smash the glass ceiling over Phillips' head, this would be the uber-heinous crime of RACIALLY-MOTIVATED ASSAULT.

Fact: A black leader would not ETHNICALLY "represent" 90 percent of Britons. Not so in USA.

Christopher Wright, Newcastle,

Sigh. Such an easy way to get headlines. The gullible media fall for it every time. Sadly it looks like the Obama victory will, predictably, give carte blanche to the left to trump up more racial trouble. The eggshells we've been treading on are about to get even more delicate.

David Lewin, Bath,

What utter rubish there is as much RACISM in the USA as there is in the UK.

Jon Nemo, Llanelli, UK

".... it is certainly not natural or desirable"? Racism is alive and well in the UK, alright. Its forms range from the denial that race remains an obstacle, to this type of overt bigotry. Phillips is correct: The UK has far to go before achieving the type of result that the U.S. has pulled off.

Catherine, New York, USA

Typical chip on should attitude - is it racist when a white man can't get into government in Zimbabwe and other African countries???

jake, London,

Immigrants make up 8% of Britain's population and 60 years ago there weren't any. America's population is 99.9% immigrant stock and it is they who shaped the country and its culture. The analogy is flawed and the question is not whether Britain should have a black leader; rather why should it?

Richard Crow , Warsaw, Poland

Simon Holly, English is not a race. The race is Caucasian and includes Indians, Arabs, Jews, etc.

The English stock are from German and other invaders, so it is not even your homeland.

Benjamin Disraeli, a Spanish Jew, climbed to the top of the greasy pole twice to become Prime Minister.

M Khan, Peterborough, UK

A case of finding a problem where none exists in order to justify one's job? Wouldn't be the first time.

Ronnie Wibbley, Leighton Buzzard,

Britain won't get a black Prime Minister until there is a black candidate who doesn't want to make race their primary reason to be in politics. As all our black candidates purposely use race as a leg up in the political process they'll always put off voters.

Obama won because he rose above this.

Andrew W, Fareham,

It is possible that for every person who has been refused promotion because of their colour, there is another who has received it for the same reason?

What a pity that we cannot just promote or elect someone because thay are the best - irrespective of ANY other factor.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

It's not about race. I'm black and I would never vote for Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton. Obama is bi-racial, so he is not just Black. Obama is inspirational, transformational, he re-energize the entire voting process. That is what got him elected.

Glenda , Detroit, MI, USA

All these people who are criticising Sir Trevor Phillips had better watch out, or he will have his CRE mob round your house to sort you out. This country should have a prime minister of Chinese origin, there are NO members of parliament of Chinese origin at all - RACISM!

Chris, LONDON,

It is not racism for the majorirty of the most creative people on earth to want see an Anglo Saxon like themselves in power. Africa has proven nothing to any of us. This not racism but common sense. Obama has proven nothing yet. He recieved 6 times the money M<c caine funded by wealthy media owners.

Jas, Alders, UK

We have never seen this as an election for black versus white. Obama has shown himself to be a good human being and an impressive statesman. What a refreshing change.

We would definiteley vote for someone like this, whichever colour of the rainbow he is. chance would be a fine thing!

Jilly, Swanage UK,

It will never happen. This country has become a far too PC and what has happened is the average person has become slightly right leaning as a result. So, it's your own fault that an ethnic minority member will never be elected, that's what you get for shoving your PC agenda down our throats.

Martin, London, UK

Well, one step at a time. London is very multi-racial isn't it. Anyone can stand for Mayor?

Matthew Freedman, London, United Kingdom

I am suprised to see your article in the papers and on the news Mr Philips, if this country and this goverment are
so instistututionaly racist.
Are you not just trying to give yourself some publicity and
stir up trouble.

stephen, Blackpool, england

Do we really need more "victim" cries from a seemingly successful person of color? Obama won the election in no small part because he is smart, charismatic, exhibited presidential qualities when needed and because he ran a wise campaign. Oh, and he happens to be black! Stop the whining!

David, Ann Arbor, USA

Trevor Phillips ...Is it just me or is this man a tiresome bore...I have no doubt that in multi racial Britain, that if an Obama UK was to come about in Britain that they would make there way,Be they gay ,black,brown,pink,red.blue or gold.They said that a woman could never be voted in as PM..

WILLIAM, NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND

Why should somebody from a 3% minority group expect to become Prime Minister ? I would not expect tp be President of South Africa if I lived there.

In the USA the coloured population is about 20 % and the odds are therefore much better.

Tony, Bournemouth, U.K.

What Obama has discovered is what every Black General Officer and Admiral, every Black Supreme Court Justice, every Black Secretary of State, every Black CEO already knew: The door was unlocked. It was all along.

Instead of presuming failure, visualize success.

peter, miami, usa

Why do people like Mr Trevor Phillips have to start bleating about race every time something good happens. It really causes more problems than any good. It just rubs people up the wrong way. Give us a break mr Phillips

phil barnes, chichester, uk

Obama reached the top due to the method of selecting a candidate in the US. The party can be bypassed by a big character (Reagan and now Obama). Self-selecting is endemic in both main parties in the UK. The tories with a white; bourgeoise front bench and labour-much the same-with a lot if scots.

Russell, London,

Bill Morris was just about the best union leader we ever had. An honourable man who represented all his members. He rose through the ranks because people trusted him to do the right thing. Or doesn't he count in the bigoted and racist attitude of our equality watchdog?

Ken Whysall, Hemel Hempstead,

Britain is not America. Blacks and Asians in Britain are immigrants while Blacks in America are mainly natural Americans!
It is also not important to have a British Obama!!

Ezhi Opfu, London, UK

Dont forget people Obama is mixed race.Conservatives havent made more progress because just look when mayor of London said no to projects that would help those in poverty where there are ethnic majority.Black people live in US free since revolution inUKthey live free since 60s. UK made more progress.

Marko, Birmingham, UK

Trevor Phillips is so right. Most black people like me living in London know that we have to work ten times harder than our white colleagues and yet still get blocked at every turn especially when it comes to positions of responsibility in the mainstream political/business arena by a glass ceiling.

Jo Mulligan, London, UK

If he wants to wipe out all racism perhaps he should call for the following to be closed down:
- National Black Police Association
- The Society of Asian Lawyers
- The Asian Business Federation
- The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
- The Association of Muslim Lawyers

John, London, UK

It's an arrogantly blatant case of 'I'm all right Jack' with the
self-rightiously smug Phillips.

Isn't it so insultingly ironic that he happens to have done so quietly well for himself during the past 'golden decade' and only now bites off the hand that fed him.

All grab and gas.

dave, cumbria,

The Labour Party ,which includes Mr Phillips, continue to promote the rumour that : "If you are white and do not get the job it is because you are not good enough. If you`re black then it`s because of racial discrimination."
Tell a lie often enough and some people will believe it.

vincent taylor, huddersfield, england

Maybe black people here are different and not such a respectable, worthy, integrated and positive part of mainstream society. Thats certainly true of UK Muslims compared to US Muslims. I think its a facile comparison when made only in terms of black MPs = good, few = bad. Its not that simple.

Joe, Manchester,

All things come to he who works hard, irrespective of race.

John, London,

It is also particularly difficult for anyone who is not Anglican or Presbyterian to become Prime Minister.

P Flannery, Glasgow,

Trevor Phillips has missed a major difference between Britain and USA when he says that Obama would never have become Britain's Prime Minister. In Britain, we have indigenous people, in the majority, who happen to be white. In the USA, the vast majority of people are all immigrants - white or black. It follows, therefore, that there is bound to be more opportunities in America for blacks to get to the top. I am black but can clearly see that the two scenarios (UK and USA) are not similar.

Yusuf Musoke, London, United Kingdom

Lets' just wait and see how good Obama really is. Don't forget he and Phillips support a system that requires there to be poor people, they just want to be at the top! Greedy people run the world, and will continue to do so, until discrimination is replaced with real fairness.

Chris, London,

How importtant is a British Obama now!

Ezhi Opfu, London, UK

Racism to me is a debate blocking tactic. However, no, i do not want an immigrant Prime Minister however clever. Sorry for being so blunt.

Bob, Peterborough, England

Jan, London - thank you - hit the nail right on the head ! Phillips should think before he makes inflammatory comments. Seems to have no understanding of historical perspective or how UK politics work.

Stephen Reeve, Southend,

So says LORD Philips who himself has massively benefited under our system .

Whilst I believe in equality, it should be based on ability and not merely because someone is black.

John A, Leeds,

So Trevor Philips fancies himself as Prime Minister, then?

J Jenkins, York,

I'm sorry that Trevor Phillips has a beef with labour but he should not be blaming them for this. It is the elite schooling system in this country which educates only 5% of the population yet turns out 89% of politicans and civil servants. The rot sets in at the bottom of the barrel.

kim, london,

Mr Philips is attacking the wrong issue here: the political system is closed to ALL except those who want to devote their 'careers' to politics.

That is profoundly undemocratic and unneccesary in the current age. The assemblies, quangos, authorities need to adopt new democratic governance

MarkS, Leeds,

We live in a "multi cultural" society , within this cross section of cultures "white British" makes up 86% and all the black cultures together add up to less than 3%. In America it is nearly half!
The point is representation should reflect the population, not the opinion of quangos.

Steve, Bristol, UK

the comments here are far more astute than the article.
yes, "give it time", yes "people emerge based on their abilities rather than skin colour" and yes, we "had a woman PM 20 yrs ago".

but beware, because we value OUR culture far more than Labour think so don't push it.

God save the Queen

barry, woking, uk

I don't think it unfair to say that it was Black racism that got Obama elected. The White vote was 50/50. The Black vote for Obama was 95%. Are those the stats of a superior system?

Mike, London,

Racism does bubble up each time but with the ethnic minorities not with the "true Brits". But this country does have a positive discrimination for the ethnic minorities and in time this will have huge repercussions as the "whites" will be second class citizens with very few rights in their own country

Chris, s'bury,

I agree with Nasrullah Khan Moghal. Let us not forget the bigotry of 'leaders' such as Jesse Jackson and their anti-Semitic bile. Racism is not one way traffic.

Mike, London,

We cannot escape history, as we have already had a bi-racial PRIME MINISTER, Winston Churchill, for starters, his great grand mother (grand mother?) was of Native American race.

Unless the debate is about 'a beauty competition ' where BRIGHT LIGHTS SHONE ON CONTESTENTS TO SEE HOW DARK, WHATEVER ,THEIR SKINS ARE? Surely, that is in the stratosphere

STANLEY JENKINS, BROADSTAIRS, ENGLAND

Trust Trevor Phillips to look for racism before it appears.
Silly man - always looking to manufacture social differences.

Sean, Coventry, UK

I am so disappointed by this comment by Philips. The UK is not racist (aprt from the far right). The first thing that is needed is a person of the mould of 'Obama'. The problem is there isn't and neither is Phillips.

James Cole, London , UK

Obama is an exception - raised by his white grandparents on Hawaii, not by his single mother in a US housing project.

In the UK the black community (not Asian) is short of role models and many of its leaders rountinely denounce the system and individuals (as Uncle Toms) seeking public office

Mrs Ben, London, England

When i consider the grand title and the meaning of the office that a holier than thou Trevor Philips holds,i believe he does more to undermine racial relations by some of the ill thought words that he utters.In fact i would go as far as to say,he is no longer fit for purpose.

owen, gateshead,

I am shocked at this claim. If true, it is devestating for our ethnic minorities. How on earth can we as a civilised society in 21st century still have racism in high places. This is outragreous. I think we must tackle racism and eradicate it totally. People of all races and colour are equal.

Thomas, Mancehster, UK

I sincerely don't understand why race is a mitigating factor in anyone's decision making. It just isn't important. Culture is what matters - and when yours is radically incompatible with the social elite of the UK you won't get on. No matter how much money is spent or however many corners are cut.

Chris, Nottingham,

Rubbish. People of exceptional ability will always get through whatever the odds. Look at Thatcher.

Marchchild, St Martin de Re, France

Mr Obama is diplomatic, friendly and doesn't have a chip on his shoulders like most ethnic politicians do. Mr Obama also seemed to be willing to serve all Americans while some ethnic politicians only care for their own people.

Carolyn , Surbiton,

Mr Philips is also famous for saying that electing Barack Obama would set back race relations. Barack Obama came to be President-elect because he dared to believe. Mr Philips is daring us not to believe

As a black man living in Britain I say we need new leadership. Philips belongs in the past.

Jonathan, London, UK

I may be wrong but I feel that Barack Obama projects himself as a citizen of the world rather than just a black man and is thus able to cross all racial divides . I do not get the same sense in prominent potential leaders of ethnic minorities in this country. They would struggle to convince all.

Greta Bowman, Brighton,

Trevor Phillips comments are absurd. Non-white Britons make up less than 8% of the UK population and people of African origin account for just 2% of the population. So to imply our political system is racist unless a Prime Minister is elected specifically from that 2% of society, is ridiculous.

Mark Ryan, Reading, UK

Why even waste their time with Trevor Phillips.Making false claims by saying Labour have not made as quick progress as the Tories in bringing through candidates from ethnic minorities, when this contradicts the evidence, undermines his own position and the cause of equality he is supposed to promote

David, Liverpool, UK

Given time it is quite possible. After all the UK had a woman prime minister twenty years ago: no woman has made it to president in the US !!! This suggests the glass ceilings have been broken and anyone with merit can make it to Number 10.

John , Alford, England

I agree. Racism bubbles to the surface in the UK at every opportunity. Just mention Burka and all sorts of ghastly characters pop up with their bigoted opinions. In official circles there are plenty of tight lipped officers with a tone in their voice who just about manage to restrain themselves.

James, Beckton, East London

There is a huge difference between America and the UK that Mr Phillips conveniently ignores, and that is England is the homeland of the English race. While its not impossible for a non-English person to rule over us, it is certainly not natural or desirable.

Simon Holly, London,

Phillips fails to mention that there have been black people in the US for over 250 years.People of colour have only really been here in sizeable numbers since 1960. There was a presence of 20,000 black people here in 1800 but they were assimilated. MPs should be chosen on merit not skin colour

Jan, London, England

While we hail Barack Obama, let us not forget those whose struggle preceded that of Obama, particularly Jesse Jackson. The US system of presidential elections is very different from our parliamentary system. We need to let people emerge based on their abilities rather than skin colour.

Nasrullah Khan Moghal, Manchester, UK

We need to give it time and not attempt to force it just because it happened in America. We should also strive for a post racial britain and start by bringing up our own children the right way and letting their role models be there good parents not the rappers and drug dealers on the street corner.

Adegbola , London , UK

Give it time, all things come to he who will but wait.

James Croak, New York, USA