The Black Paper

We Are Griots and WDV

Hosted by Ndukwe Onuoha and Cheta Nwanze, The Black Paper looks at UK politics through the lens of African heritage communities, many of whom are recent migrants.

  1. 4d ago

    Feel at home: Linda Cobb OBE, on the Renters' Rights Act 2025

    Send us Fan Mail Summary The Renters Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026. It is the biggest overhaul of the private rented sector in over thirty years. For Black and African heritage communities, who are disproportionately renting privately, receiving eviction notices, and living in poor conditions, it matters more than for almost any other group in the country.  This week, we sit down with Linda Cobb OBE, Principal Manager of DASH Services at Derby City Council and a member of the government working group that helped shape this legislation, to explain what changed, what rights renters now have, and what the Act means for community members who are also landlords. Key resources for renters Shelter free housing advice helpline: 0808 800 4444Citizens Advice: citizensadvice.org.ukDASH Services: dashservices.org.ukOfficial Renters Rights Act tenant guidance: https://housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/private-renting-is-changing/First-tier Tribunal (to challenge rent increases): https://www.gov.uk/courts-tribunals/first-tier-tribunal-property-chamberDeposit protection schemes: https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection Key resources for landlords Official Renters Rights Act landlord guidance: https://housinghub.campaign.gov.uk/renting-is-changing/DASH landlord accreditation: dashservices.org.ukNational Residential Landlords Association: nrla.org.ukSection 8 possession grounds: https://www.gov.uk/evicting-tenants Your new rights from 1 May 2026 at a glance You cannot be evicted without a legal reason.Your landlord cannot refuse you because you receive benefits or have children.Your landlord cannot demand more than one month’s rent upfront.Rent can only increase once in any twelve-month period, with two months’ written notice.You can challenge a rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal.Your landlord must address damp and mould.You have the right to request a pet. Your landlord must respond within 28 days. If you are a landlord: five things to do now Stop using fixed-term tenancy agreements.Protect your tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme.Give every existing tenant the official Renters Rights Act Information Sheet.Plan for PRS Database registration from late 2026. Without registration, you cannot legally seek possession.If you need to end a tenancy, use a proper Section 8 notice. Seek legal advice. Awaab’s Law consultation https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/extending-awaabs-law-to-private-rented-tenancies-and-to-licences/extending-awaabs-law-to-private-rented-tenancies-and-to-licences Chapters 00:00  Welcome: Renting Is Changing 02:06  Why the Renters’ Rights Act Matters 05:21  Section 21 Is Ending 07:07  New Rules on Rent and Tenancies 10:04  Tackling Discrimination in Renting 11:56   What Landlords Can Still Do 16:08  Rent Increases and Tenant Challenges 17:53  Damp, Mould, and Housing Standards 25:01  Informal Lets and Written Agreements 29:23  Key Advice for Tenants 37:12  What Landlords Need to Know 43:09  Final Takeaways Support the show

    Feel at home: Linda Cobb OBE, on the Renters' Rights Act 2025
  2. Oct 14

    Nuts and crosses: Why is Christian nationalism on the rise?

    Send us Fan Mail Summary What happens when those who claim to be defenders of the Christian faith use it to justify exclusion and racism? In this episode of The Black Paper, we unpack the rise of Christian nationalism in Britain, drawing on a new report by Theos Think Tank to examine the relationship between faith, identity and belonging, and why immigrant communities should be wary of rhetoric that weaponises Christianity to target others. We also reflect on the tragic deaths of Jane Adetoro, Christina Walters and Rebecca Walters, three sisters who died by suicide together in May 2026. Their story forces us to confront our community’s fragile relationship with mental health discussions and the urgent need for more open, culturally aware conversations about depression, grief, isolation and seeking support. Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide, grief, depression and mental health crises. If you or someone you know needs support: Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7)PAPYRUS: 0800 068 4141CALM: 0800 58 58 58Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258Black Minds Matter UK: blackmindsmatteruk.comBAATN (Black, African and Asian Therapy Network): baatn.org.uk Chapters 00:00: Welcome, UK weather and opening banter 05:45: Today’s topics: Christian nationalism and a difficult conversation on mental health 06:58: Content note and support resources 08:29: What the Theos report says about Christian nationalism 12:27: Christianity, identity, immigration and exclusion 15:23: Racism, public services and the politics behind “Christian values” 19:08: Why African-heritage communities should pay attention to the rise of Reform 22:05: Imported religious divides and geopolitical awareness 26:40: Faith, politics and the danger of exclusionary nationalism 28:08: Break 29:05: The deaths of three sisters and the conversation around mental health 31:53: Grief, isolation and the importance of checking in 36:25: Community networks and barriers to mental-health support 39:14: Why listening can matter more than having an answer 42:25: Prayer, vulnerability and making space to talk 44:36: The value of a safe space to vent 47:24: Supporting children, community and connection 49:09: Support resources revisited 50:45: Next episode preview and closing banter Support the show

    Nuts and crosses: Why is Christian nationalism on the rise?
  3. Oct 7

    Hope Again: Beyond Andy Burnham's conference speech

    Send us Fan Mail Summary Ndukwe Onuoha is joined by Joseph Ogundemuren — political and trade union activist, community campaigner, former Hackney councillor and Chair of British Nigerian Councillors. They explore why African and Caribbean communities need to stay engaged in politics, particularly as Labour’s conference agenda signals potential shifts on care, utilities, Brexit and electoral reform. They also unpack what these policies could mean in practice for Black and migrant communities — from care work and the lessons of Windrush to trade union protection and Obsidian Labour’s role in building a stronger political network. Chapters 00:00  Introduction to Joseph Ogundemuren and his community political work 03:00  Losing Hackney Wick and staying active after council office 04:15  Meeting King Charles, diaspora work, and Labour conference activity 07:44  Why Joseph stayed in politics instead of walking away 10:01  “If you are not seated at the table, you are on the menu” 12:12   Andy Burnham’s conference speech and the five major announcements 15:04  Why the National Care Service matters to Black workers 16:48  Care work, Windrush echoes, and political education 19:16   Why voting matters even when people feel disillusioned 20:39  What councillors do and why local politics matters 24:47  Learning the system before the system teaches you 27:13   Why Europe and the EU are not simple answers 30:09  Bad governance, elites, and blame politics 33:06  Privilege, climate politics, and global inequality 35:09  Understanding proportional representation and how it works 40:29  Why Joseph opposes proportional representation 44:09  The limits of PR, party lists, and voter participation 49:50  Listening more than speaking in political life 51:41   Why public utilities should not be run only for profit 54:17  Housing associations, waste collection, and accountability 57:37  What Obsidian Labour is and who it is for 61:30  Unison, migrant workers, and the 10-year ILR debate 65:17  Trade unions, exploitation, and defending workers’ rights 67:39  Peace, prosperity, and the case for collective action Support the show

    Hope Again: Beyond Andy Burnham's conference speech
  4. Sep 17

    No Longer at Ease: On negligence, nationalism and nationhood

    Send us Fan Mail Summary Two major stories this week, both with direct implications for African heritage communities in Britain. In the first half, we examine the death of Hugo Flint-Cahan, 34, at Newham Mental Health Centre, and the coroner's ruling that unlawful killing was contributed to by neglect. Staff slept on duty, patients were left unsupervised, and records were falsified. We address the uncomfortable truth that some of the named staff are Nigerian, and we do not avoid it. We also connect this to the wider culture of overwork, burnout, and the pressure migrants face to keep working regardless of the toll. In the second half, we turn to the Cardiff memorandum, signed by the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and what it means for African migrants holding visas, ILR, or citizenship in a country that may not look the same in ten years. Both halves come back to the same questions: accountability, immigration status, and how professional and political failures shape the perception and safety of our communities. Chapters 00:00  Opening the episode and setting up two urgent stories 01:23  The Hugo Flint Cahan case and the coroner’s findings 03:18  Why the story matters for Nigerians and the “do the job” warning  04:29  Chxta frames it as a wider culture of medical negligence 05:42  What staff allegedly did while patients were left unsupervised 06:41  Coroners, inquests, and why accountability matters in the UK 07:31  Linking the case to broader institutional failure and Nigerian migration 09:14  Understaffing, burnout, and why overworking creates risk 12:32  Why migrants should stop glorifying endless shift work 13:32  Ndukwe on black tax, self-care, and being honest about struggle 15:00  Final warning: the UK system punishes negligence 15:45  Closing thoughts on the death and a quick break 20:51  Why the Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland memo matters 22:52  A quick history of the UK’s four nations  25:40  Devolution, Scotland’s independence push, and the 2014 referendum 26:39  Brexit as the turning point that kept the union unstable 29:42  Why recent elections boosted separatist parties in Wales and elsewhere 31:39  The leaders who signed the Cardiff memorandum 33:27  Does more devolution now point toward breakup? 33:57  What independence could mean for visas, ILR, and citizenship  36:55  How immigration rights could be renegotiated after a breakup 38:26  Anti-immigrant politics in Northern Ireland and Wales 39:23  Historical irony for Commonwealth citizens watching the UK fragment 41:36  How a breakup could affect the NHS and migrant labour 42:27  Could Scotland become a new destination for migrants if Reform rises elsewhere? 43:51  Closing warnings about Reform, accountability, and protecting women Support the show

    No Longer at Ease: On negligence, nationalism and nationhood
  5. Sep 8

    Let my people go: The government tackles modern day slavery

    Send us Fan Mail Summary On 3 September 2026 the UK government announced a change to the Skilled Worker visa rules. For the first time, a worker formally recognised as a victim of modern slavery can leave their abusive employer and work elsewhere without losing their right to remain in the UK. This matters directly to the tens of thousands of Nigerian, Ghanaian, Zimbabwean and other African workers who came to Britain on Health and Care Worker visas between 2021 and 2025. Many arrived into a system that gave their sponsor legal leverage over their immigration status. Some were underpaid, overworked, threatened, and told they would lose their visa if they complained. This week on The Black Paper we explain the background, what the new rules actually say, how the National Referral Mechanism works, and what our community needs to know to access this protection. Important Note on Implementation The government announced this change on 3 September 2026 but the provisions come into force on staggered dates: 8 October, 29 October and 30 November 2026. If you believe these rules apply to your situation, seek advice before taking action. Contact one of the organisations below or a qualified immigration solicitor. National Referral Mechanism — Official Government Guidance The NRM is the government process for identifying victims of modern slavery. You must go through this process to access the new visa protection. The official guidance for adults in England and Wales is at: gov.uk/government/publications/human-trafficking-victims-referral-and-assessment-forms If You Need Help Now •       Modern Slavery Helpline (Unseen UK): 08000 121 700 — free, 24 hours, confidential •       Migrant Help: 0808 8010 503 — migranthelpuk.org •       Kalayaan (specialist in migrant worker cases, strong on African worker experience): 020 7243 2942 — kalayaan.org.uk •       Work Rights Centre: workrightscentre.org •       Salvation Army: 0300 303 8151 — salvationarmy.org.uk •       Refugee Council: 020 7346 6700 — refugeecouncil.org.uk Find The Black Paper •       Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0vCzrSrqVEMBvD5WV609SB •       Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-black-paper/id1817416283 •       Website: theblackpaper.co.uk •       X: @blackpaperpod •       Instagram: @blackpaperpod Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the UK visa changes and their significance 02:04 Details of the new visa rule for victims of modern slavery 03:52 Media coverage and public awareness of immigration issues 05:55 Exploitation within the sponsorship system and real-life cases 09:00 Legal processes and support mechanisms for victims 12:14 The role of faith institutions and community organisations 15:03 Challenges and loopholes in the current system 18:08 Statistics on modern slavery cases and vulnerable populations 20:45 The desperation driving exploitation among migrant workers 23:51 Potential abuses and how to protect oneself 26:59 Summary and key takeaways for migrants and advocates Support the show

    Let my people go: The government tackles modern day slavery
  6. Sep 1

    Outrage pays: Social media is poisoning UK politics

    Send us Fan Mail Summary Why does the UK feel like it is drifting into a more toxic political information environment? Using Rupert Lowe, Elon Musk, and the rise of outrage monetisation as examples, we discuss what lies ahead if the UK doesn’t immediately put this trend in check.  Chapters 00:00 Intro and why Chxta is in Abuja for political work  02:31 Why UK political expression worries Chxta  03:47 The Citizens United effect and dark money in politics  05:23 Rupert Lowe, outrage content, and Twitter payouts  08:17 How media ownership helps politicians bypass scrutiny  10:24 The incentive to post inflammatory content for money  11:23 How outrage politics targets immigrants and communities  13:18 Billionaires as "job creators" and the wealth tax narrative  14:53 Inherited wealth versus the myth of pure hard work  18:18 Twitter as a public square before the outrage economy  19:34 How algorithms shifted from voices to wrath  21:39 The four-layer billionaire propaganda framework  22:08 How benefits debate shifted into anti-immigrant rhetoric  24:28 Sharia law panic and imported talking points  26:28 When online outrage becomes offline community tension  27:16 Mehdi Hasan and the contradictions of the extreme right  28:37 Why most people do not interrogate the narratives they absorb  29:15 Rupert Lowe's earnings as proof of the incentive problem  30:58 Why direct social media earnings bypass normal donation rules  32:47 How politicians can be incentivised by algorithm changes  34:06 The US and Nigeria as warnings for where this can lead  35:06 Final warning to UK listeners to stay vigilant Support the show

    Outrage pays: Social media is poisoning UK politics

About

Hosted by Ndukwe Onuoha and Cheta Nwanze, The Black Paper looks at UK politics through the lens of African heritage communities, many of whom are recent migrants.

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