Tory leader defends Philip’s legacy after row over ‘racist’ remarks
THE LEADER of Hull Council’s Conservative group has defended the Duke of Edinburgh’s legacy in the wake of a Labour councillor’s comments over Prince Philip’s “racist” remarks which sparked controversy.
Coun John Fareham, the leader of the Tories on the council, said the Queen’s late consort should be seen as a “product of his time” who served his country.
Coun Fareham added that while he agreed with Labour member Aneesa Akbar that issues of racism should be discussed, he did not believe Prince Philip should be brought into the debate.
It comes as Coun Akbar deleted her social media accounts after comments she made hours after the Duke of Edinburgh’s death at the age of 99 on Friday sparked a backlash.
The Labour councillor said on Facebook: “Mourn who you wish and remember them how you want.
“However, when you call racist and other offensive comments ‘gaffes’, probs shouldn’t deny institutional racism exists.”
The comments referred to remarks the Duke was known for making in situations which critics have claimed were offensive or inappropriate.
Coun Akbar later said her thoughts were with the Royal family during their mourning, but added she felt she had a “responsibility” to be honest about issues of “institutional racism”.
Coun Fareham said he preferred to mourn Prince Philip as a “loyal public servant” rather than focusing on his “gaffes”.
The Conservative said: “I have seen Aneesa’s remarks and sympathise with the point she makes that it is appropriate to mourn and have a discussion.
“In any obituary I wouldn’t have mentioned what some called gaffes and others worse.
“The Prince Philip I remember was the loyal consort and the man who was known by his deeds and the good that he did, things like the Duke of Edinburgh awards being pioneering work and totally open to all irrespective of race or creed or sexuality.
“Prince Philip, as we all are, is a product of his time and never laid claim to being any more perfect than any of the rest of us.”
The Labour leader of Hull Council, Coun Steve Brady, and the authority’s deputy leader, Coun Daren Hale, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
A Labour spokesperson declined to comment.