No place for racism in local government or North East says Northern TUC

date: 12 January 2012

embargo: for immediate release

Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary of the Northern TUC said:

'The Northern TUC is staggered and appalled by Redcar MP Ian Swales' decision to defend a Liberal Democrat candidate's racist remarks on Facebook as 'a bad taste joke'. Like MPs, councillors are elected to serve all their constituents and without prejudice. It is disturbing that views that would not be amiss in the far right British National Party are condoned in any way by a mainstream political party.

'The North East and Cumbria has a proud history of challenging and campaigning against racism in all its forms. Ian Swales MP and the Liberal Democrats should now do the right thing and distance themselves from a candidate whose bigoted remarks make him completely unfit for public office.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For full details and text of the letter that Mr Rowan sent to the Liberal Democrats on the original issue, please click below:

http://www.tuc.org.uk/social/tuc-20462-f0.cfm?regional=3

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Media contacts:

Kevin Rowan, Northern TUC Regional Secretary T: 0191 227 5565; M: 07766250074; E: krowan@tuc.org.uk