Race chief up for ethnic diversity award

Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality who sparked controversy by calling for an end to the UK's “outdated” multicultural policies, is up for an ethnic diversity award, it emerged today.

Phillips, 50, the British-born son of Guyanese parents, is one of five finalists up for the British Public Figure Of The Year Award next month.

David Beckham is also in line for an Ethnic Multicultural Media award (Emma) for contributing to multicultural Britain.

Phillips sparked an intense debate earlier this month when he called for the abandonment of “outdated” policies on multiculturalism.

Organisers of the Ethnic Multicultural Media awards (Emmas) said they put Phillips’ name forward before he said that the word multiculturalism “was not useful” and that it was time to “assert a core of Britishness”.

Other contenders for Public Figure of the Year include Bob Geldof and Tony Benn.

Beckham, whose alleged infidelities have recently grabbed the headlines, has been nominated for Sporting Personality for the Year.

The nomination comes after Becks was named Britain’s most famous black man in a Channel 4 documentary, which called him the British black community’s greatest icon.

Now the England captain has been shortlisted with the likes of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry and England rugby player Jason Robinson for the annual awards which seek to celebrate “multicultural media talent”.

An awards spokesman said: “Trevor Phillips was shortlisted before he made his statement and now the voting is up to the public.”

Asked about Beckham’s inclusion on the list, he said: “David Beckham plays an important role in today’s multi-cultural Britain not only as an icon but also as an inspiration to young people of all cultures, which encourages greater integration of society while keeping their grass roots cultures intact.”

Former BBC Director General Greg Dyke has also been nominated in the Media Personality for the Year category, along with rap DJ Tim Westwood.

Fame Academy star Lemar is up against 17-year-old soul singer Joss Stone, singers Jamelia and Big Brovaz in the Best British Music Act category.

Beyoncé, Outkast, Missy Elliott, The Black Eyed Peas and Norah Jones are nominated for Best International Music Act.

The controversial movie The Passion of the Christ has been nominated for Best Film Production.

The honorary Lifetime Achievement Award goes to the late Martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

The novel Brick Lane, which has been criticised by Bangladeshis in the area where the book is set, has been nominated in the Best Book/Novel section.

Nominees in the Best TV Actor category are Gary Beadle from EastEnders, Art Malik from Holby City, Kwame Kwei-Armah from Casualty, Chiwetel Ejiofor from The Canterbury Tales – The Knight’s Tale and Adrian Lester from Hustle.

Nina Wadia from All About Me, Parminder Nagra from Second Generation, Ellen Thomas from Teachers, Julia Sawalha from Jonathan Creek and Indira Varma from The Canterbury Tales are all nominated for Best TV Actress.

The British public can vote for winners from the shortlist,

The awards ceremony is broadcast on BBC2 at 10.45pm on May 30.