Ludlow | Archive | 2001 | April | 4
From the archive, first published Wednesday 4th Apr 2001.
LUDLOW Conservatives have come out in support of local MP Christopher Gill who was at the centre of a national controversy this week over immigration and race.
Mr Gill was criticised in the national media after giving his full backing to the right of Yorkshire MP, John Townend, to express his view that immigrants have "diluted" Anglo-Saxon Britain.
Mr Gill said: "I don't think there is any doubt that it has been diluted. If you pour enough water on a double scotch it ceases to taste like whisky."
He said: "As chairman of the Freedom Association, I will defend John Townend's right to say what he wants to say. We must have freedom of speech and people must not be put off saying what they like."
"I can understand John's concern and I support him. He struck a chord with millions of British people. The whole nation was changed by the passing of mass immigration in the 1970's and 1980's."
Speaking on behalf of Ludlow Constituency Conservative Association, prospective parliamentary candidate, Martin Taylor-Smith, said Mr Gill's comments had to be viewed in the context in which they were said.
He said Mr Gill had done no more than reiterate the Conservative belief that Britain should be a "safe haven not a soft touch" in immigration and asylum.
However, Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Ludlow, Nigel Knowles, said, Tory leader William Hague should withdraw the parliamentary whip from Mr Gill.
Liberal-Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate, Matthew Green, said: "His comments about diluting scotch were completely disgraceful and in my mind they are clearly racist. It does not represent the Ludlow and Bridgnorth districts."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008