Race Relations Act 1965

The Race Relations Act 1965 was the first law in the UK to say that discrimination on the "grounds of colour, race, or ethnic or national origins" in public places in Great Britain was not allowed. It did not apply to  shops or private boarding houses. It was followed by more, stronger, laws.

It was passed by the Wilson government after a racist political campaign in Smethwick, where the Conservative candidate Peter Griffiths beat Patrick Gordon Walker using the slogan "If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour".

The Race Relations Board was started in 1966  to consider complaints under the Act.  Discrimination was a civil issue.   The Act also created the criminal offence of "incitement to racial hatred".  The leader of the British National Socialist Movement, Colin Jordan, was prosecuted under the Act and jailed for 18 months in 1967.

It was strengthened by the Race Relations Act 1968.
References

Category:1960s Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Category:1965 in Europe
Category:Racism in Europe