Whitby's apology for Tory BNP link

By Paul Dale | Monday, 8 March 2004 | Click here for original article

A top Birmingham Tory has apologised after officials published a leaflet linking the party's policies on asylum and immigration to those of the farright British National Party.

Mike Whitby, leader of the Conservative opposition on Birmingham City Council, said material distributed in the Northfield constituency was "clumsily" written and should not have given the impression that Tories share the views of the BNP.

The leaflet pointed out that, at last year's council elections, a BNP candidate polled 646 votes in the Northfield ward. Labour's majority over the Conservative candidate was 535.

The leaflet says the BNP vote kept Labour in. It adds: "The Conservatives feel just as strongly on key issues like asylum and immigration, but we will campaign without stirring up racial hatred. Please remember this if the BNP tempts you."

The statement that Conservatives are as strong on asylum seekers and immigrants as the BNP sit uneasily alongside attempts by party leader Michael Howard to distance himself and the Tories from the far-right.

Speaking last month in Burnley, where the BNP has seven council seats, Mr Howard said: "For centuries Britain has welcomed energetic, ambitious and optimistic people from every part of the world. We have a stronger and better country, rich in our cultural diversity, because of the immigrant communities that have settled here."

The BNP gained three council seats in the West Midlands last year, campaigning on a manifesto that pledged to stop asylum seekers "being dumped" in the region. The party said it would make asylum seekers repay welfare benefits by "putting them to work" on cleaning the streets.

The BNP's general election manifesto pledged to "encourage" immigrants to return to their country of origin.

Coun Whitby, asked if Birmingham Conservatives felt "just as strongly" about asylum and immigration as the BNP, said: "I certainly wouldn't have written it in that manner. If someone has written an article that is clumsy, I would apologise to any one who has been caused offence."

Coun Whitby, who did not write or authorise the leaflet, added: "Our policy, whatever the leaflet is saying, is that we share the concerns that anyone would have over illegal immigration. We take a robust view, but we certainly don't mirror-image the BNP. We abhor BNP policies.

"The article is trying to say, rather clumsily, that we understand the concerns of people surrounding a range of issues on immigration."

The wording of the Northfield leaflet was condemned by Birmingham Labour councillor Mick Rice. Coun Rice (Sparkbrook) said: "Quite clearly, the Conservatives are desperate to get their hands on any vote they can. In some areas they are trying to outflank the BNP by going to the right of them."

Longbridge Labour councillor Steve Bedser said: "It is desperately worrying that the Conservative Party is saying it has an affinity with policies of the British National Party."

Northfield Conservative councillor Reg Corns said he did not believe asylum or immigration were big issues in the constituency. However, there was discontent at Labour's "bangles and beads" policy which saw investment pouring into the predominantly ethnic inner city areas at the expense of outlying suburbs like Northfield.

"People see favouritism in the central areas. It's nothing to do with race," he added.

Gulfram Khan, chairman of the Aston Conservative Party, said he could see nothing wrong with the leaflet. "They haven't overstepped the mark as far as I am concerned."