Euro-MP Calls on Hague to Discipline Townend for Racist Speech

12.00.00am GMT Fri 23rd Mar 2001

Diana Wallis MEP has written to Tory leader William Hague calling on him to publicly rebuke East Yorkshire MP John Townend for breaking the Commission for Racial Equality Election Compact.

A speech by John Townend MP to his East Yorkshire Conservative Association was reported in yesterday's Hull Daily Mail. He is reported to have said that Britain had been "seriously undermined by massive immigration" and that "We will sink under the weight of numbers and our country as we know it will be destroyed."

In her letter to William Hague, copied to the Commission for Racial Equality, Diana Wallis has requested that publicly rebuke John Townend, who, although not re-standing at the forthcoming General Election, can not be allowed to go unchecked.

"We are clearly in the run up to a General Election," Diana commented. "Whether Mr Tonwend is a candidate or not is beside the point. He is still a Tory MP and is speaking as we enter an election campaign, therefore William Hague should take action against him.

"I have sent both Mr Hague and the Commission for Racial Equality a copy of the report in the Hull Daily Mail and I hope that further action will be taken soon.

"Comments such as those attributed to Mr Townend are racist - there's no two ways about it.

"In meetings I have had with asylum seekers here in Hull and elsewhere, it is clear that they are feeling their homes across the world in fear of their lives. They come here because they have to, not because they want to.

"As for complaining about pressure on our own housing and health resources, that's not a reason to refuse asylum seekers - it is a reason for the Government to get to grips with the proper provision of health and public services for all our population."

·The Commission for Racial Equality agreement signed by all party leaders says: 'The right to free political expression must not be abused in the competition for popular votes by causing, or exploiting, prejudice and discrimination on the grounds of race or nationality.' The leaders 'accept responsibility to ensure that every alleged breach is properly investigated by my party and that appropriate action is taken.'

·For more information, see www.cer.gov.uk