CORBYN: FIGHT THE FAR RIGHT
Warning over rise in racism & hate
Police need more power for dealing with racist language & activities JEREMY CORBYN AT EU MANIFESTO LAUNCH
JEREMY Corbyn wants the police to have more power and resources to tackle the rise of the far right.
The Labour leader’s call yesterday included a warning that the EU elections this month will mark a watershed in the fight against racism.
He spoke about the “horrifying rise of hate crime in the UK and Europe – with attacks on synagogues and mosques, plus racist abuse on streets”.
Mr Corbyn said at the party’s EU manifesto launch in Chatham, Kent: “Do the police need more powers to be very active in dealing with racist language and racist activities? Yes.
“We need to make sure all police understand they have a duty to bring communities together by dealing with hate crime and hate language.”
He also blasted Nigel Farage, whose new Brexit Party is flying high in the polls. “Farage’s Brexit is one for conspiracy theorists, for those who see Muslims and migrants or George Soros as the enemy,” he said.
“Only Labour can see off the Farage snake oil in this election
– and stand by the UK’s values of tolerance, openness and diversity.”
His stance came as the Met Commissioner Cressida Dick told of an “unprecedented” number of threats to MPs.
At the same time police began an inquiry into threatening tweets UKIP candidate Carl Benjamin sent to Jess Phillips of Labour. The
TUC, community groups, human rights organisations and charities will today make an unprecedented joint call for political parties to eradicate hate speech in the Euro campaign.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “There is no room for racism, misogyny or other forms of hatred during or after this election.”
Mr Corbyn rejected calls for a Labour vow to stop Brexit – saying the party will not divide the UK into Remainers and Leavers but is “reaching out to everyone”.
He said: “The question is what kind of society we want. The real divide is not how people voted in the referendum, it’s between the many and the few.”
VIOLENT extremists from the far right pose a terrible threat to our democracy so let’s stop tolerating the intolerant.
It’s time to give the police the resources and powers to protect our freedoms.
Fascistic zealots wrapping themselves in the flag are homegrown echoes of the enemies we fought in the past to preserve our way of life.
Vigorous debate is to be welcomed and different political views must be heard. But where nationalist hate preachers spew venom and jeopardise safety, the law must step in.
Jeremy Corbyn deserves to be heard when he calls for bigoted boot boys to be stopped.