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The poverty rate for people from black and minority ethic groups is double that of white British people, research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundtion published today shows.

Bangladeshis are the worst affected, with 65% living in poverty and three-quarters of Bangladeshi children growing up poor.

This compares with 55% of Pakistanis, 45% of black Africans and 30% of Indians and black Caribbeans living in poverty, with more than half of children in these groups growing up poor.

People from BME groups with higher educational achievements do not receive the same rewards as those from white British backgrounds, the research also shows.

Julia Unwin, director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, called for an “urgent rethink” from the government and employers to ensure that people from BME groups did not miss out on opportunities in the workplace.

“Although the past decade has seen some improvements, there are still some very serious problems which remain unsolved,” she said.

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