Further stories of discrimination experienced by black people in Basingstoke have come to light as the town's MP remains silent about a review into systemic racism. 

Since anti-racism demonstrations took place in Basingstoke earlier this month, the Gazette has spoken to individuals across the community to shine a light on the prejudice and every day racism many people encounter.

Maria Miller MP asked the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to launch a review into systemic racism across the government earlier this month, following on from anti-racism demos in the town.

But when contacted for further details by this newspaper, the politician has been unavailable to comment.

Now Toju Ogbe, a former public relations consultant, has spoken out about the discrimination he faced working in the industry.

Tojo, who moved to Basingstoke seven years ago, said he encountered being treated differently at work.

A father-of-one told the Gazette: “I was working as a PR consultant and my boss assigned me to an account, but the client felt, as an African man, that my skillset was inferior.

“My boss pulled me off the project and allocated the job to an Australian girl.

“The girl’s knowledge was nowhere near as good as mine. I was more competent than her and way ahead in terms of experience.

“This is how someone’s career can get stunted on the basis of race.

“It was nothing to do with my delivery of the job as I had just started on the account.”

Some incidents were too upsetting to recall, the member of Basingstoke African Caribbean Catholic Association said. 

Toju said he would like to see workplaces and society taking a firmer stand against racism. He said he believes more should be done to “condemn these acts of racism”. He said he wants authorities such as councils to “taking a stand against racial injustice”.

Speaking from a position of experience, he says it is “not a good feeling” to know that he is treated differently based on his appearance.

He describes the “nasty experience” as a “systematic” and “prolonged” issue that went for a long time before it was eventually resolved.

“I wouldn’t wish anyone to go through what I went through," he said. 

“I don’t think people understand the impact it has on their victims.

“It has scarred me and will be with me forever,” the BACCA member said.

Tojo said change can start by conversations in people's homes. He said he would like to see a “change of culture” and “education into racial inequality” in Basingstoke.

“People need to be quick to condemn it when they see racism happen.

“Black Lives Matter should not be championed by only one race but anyone who has a grain of humanity inside of them should advocate equality for all,” he said.