Labour apologise for a racist leaflet

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Sep 2004

Labour have been forced to apologise for a "disgraceful" leaflet. The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) demanded an explanation after a leaflet attacking proposals for a site for Travellers and Gypsies was distributed in Cardiff in the run-up to June's local elections. which attacked the Liberal Democrats for supporting a site for Travellers and Gypsies.

The CRE's commissioner for Wales, Cherry Short, said "This leaflet was a disgrace. It flew in the face of Labour's stated commitment to anti-racism. The forthright statement by the Welsh Labour executive on this issue is to be welcomed. The party now needs to put in place the kind of measures which can ensure that all members of the party know that such campaigning activities are wrong."

A statement from the Welsh Labour executive said: "The leaflet dealt with the issue of Travellers' sites in a totally inappropriate manner. Welsh Labour believes that, where such issues are raised in political debate, it should be done responsibly and as a means of addressing prejudice, not pandering to it. It is acknowledged that the leaflet breaches the cross-party concordat on these issues. Welsh Labour apologises that the leaflet appeared in the name of the party and that its distribution, however limited, was not prevented. We accepted that the use of the images concerned was likely to cause offence to the Travelling community and to residents of Llanedeyrn and Pentwyn and could undermine good relations between them."

The appology comes three days after Margaret Hodge, Labour's Children's Minister said that many traditional Labour supporters are racist and the government must no longer send mixed messages out of fear of losing their support.

Labour have still not apologised for the racist leaflets used in the Birmingham Hodge Hill by-election in July. The Birmingham Trade Council called on the new Labour MP Liam Bryne to come to one of their meetings and explain the leaflets, as far as I am aware he has not done so as of yet.