News

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View Comments(47)

"WRONG PARTY": Joan Howarth

advertisement

Tory in race storm

David Ottewell and Yakub Qureshi
10/ 4/2006

A POLITICAL storm has erupted after a would-be Tory councillor said she would not want an ethnic minority colleague standing for parliament in her constituency.

Joan Howarth, a member of the Denton and Reddish Conservative branch, said running an ethnic minority candidate "wouldn't work" for the area and would lose votes. Her claim was immediately rejected by Conservative leader David Cameron, who said Mrs Howarth was "in the wrong party".

But Mrs Howarth refused to back down and said she had already begun canvassing the Denton West ward which she will fight for the Tories on May 4.

The row is set to cause the Conservatives massive embarrassment at the close of a successful party conference at the Manchester International Convention Centre.

Mr Cameron urged colleagues to face up to the need to become a "modern and compassionate" party that could broaden its appeal in cities like Manchester. And in an exclusive M.E.N. interview, he defended his attack on the UK Independence Party in another race row.

Traditional

Mrs Howarth was asked in a TV interview if she thought picking a candidate from an ethnic minority at the next election would lose the Tories votes.

She said: 'Yes, because we are in a traditional working-class constituency. It wouldn't work for us. It wouldn't work for us at all. To each his own.'

Mr Cameron said Mrs Howarth was 'absolutely' wrong. He said: 'She is in the wrong party She is unrepresentative of the modern Conservative party. At the last election we had more candidates from the black and ethnic minority communities than any other party.'

Selection

Morag White, chairman of Greater Manchester East Conservatives, said: 'Every local Conservative party in Britain will select a parliamentary candidate against the one criteria that matters ' is this the best person for the job?'
At her home in Denton, Mrs Howarth said: 'I'm in the right party. It would depend on the candidates themselves.

"You just pick the best candidate for your constituency. Ashton has a high ethnic community, and obviously an ethnic candidate would go down better than one would here.

'We choose the candidate which suits our community. We don't want Central Office to say who we have to have in this community.'

Tory sources said under electoral law it was too late to stop Mrs Howarth standing as the official Tory candidate, even if they wanted to.

Hazel Blears, Home Office minister and Labour MP for Salford, said: 'If she is a reflection of the modern Tory party then they have a long way to go.'

What do you think? Should the local party have the final say? Have your say below.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(47)


Most recent 2 of 47 user comments

   In response to Rob, Plymouth. You are most certainly in a minority then. When did you leave Reddish ??? Things have changed alot in the last few years. It is most certainly now a big issue with many people - not just in Reddish but in parts of Trafford and Droylsden. Its not racism but people like to stick to their own. Thats human nature
CurrentReddishResident, reddish!
13/04/2006 at 07:45

Offensive or Inappropriate?

   The sad fact is that no matter how many or few people from ethnic minorities are in the country,white working class people will be no better off.People blame other badly off people for their plight,but we would all be better off getting together and fighting for a bigger piece of the pie.It isnt black,Asian or white people who make life difficult for the majority of us.The problem is a world in which the wealthy are becoming wealthier at the expense of the vast majority in this and many other countries.Paris Hilton isnt the hardest working person in the world,but she can afford a life of luxury while millions struggle and even starve,company bosses like Phillip Green can award themselves a billion dollar payrise, other bosses get millions in payoffs when their company fails or when they lay off good hard working people of all races,unfortunately many people argue amongst themselves about the few crumbs they may recieve .White,black or Asian we need to be looking at where power and wealth really lie,then we can work together for a decent and fairer society.The Tories have always used race as a way to divide people,and Labour have historically been better their record is far from perfect.Dont fight your hard up neighbour of whatever race,who may or may not have a few quid more than you,we are all being ripped off.Cheers
Rob, Plymouth
13/04/2006 at 00:10

Offensive or Inappropriate?

Newsletter Sign Up
 
Have your say Sign up to the weekly news
update

Latest stories
 

 
Snow chaos
 

Did the authorities do enough to prepare for the icy conditions?

7%
93%