Racist Tory councillor attacks “foreign names”

Left Foot Forward

Orpington councillor Peter Hobbins has been exposed for making racist comments about candidates who do not have “normal” names.

The email to the Orpington Conservative Association said:

“I have been contacted by a Mr Dilon Gumraj and a Zerha Zaidi and others who are all on the approved Conservative Parliamentary Candidates list. Not one of them has a ‘normal’ English name.

“They want to be the PPCs for Orpington and asked me for my personal advice on how they would be the best candidates for the Orpington Constituency. My view? For hells sake. Why are the Candidates Department so keen on these foreign names?!!!!”

Labour’s prospect parliament candidate for Streatham, Chuka Umunna, said:

“The language used by Cllr Hobbins – shortlisted by David Cameron to run London – is offensive in the extreme and shows his party has not come to terms with modern Britain.

“We are told the Tory Taliban surge in Norfolk was an isolated incident – clearly there is a growing insurgency in the party given the latest revelations.

“We need political parties that look and sound like the people they seek to represent, if they are to deliver for the many and not the few – the Tories will continue to fail to do so unless they change these attitudes.”

Cllr Hobbins has been suspended by the Conservative party.

Hat-tip: Duncan Borrowman

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20 Responses to “Racist Tory councillor attacks “foreign names””

  1. Kris

    The appropriate response to Chuka Umunna’s comments is:

    ROFL

    He’s a complete stuck up prick and what kind of justification does he give when he says “clearly there is a growing insurgency in the party given the latest revelations.” – none- he’s talking nonsense.

    And I’m a Labour voter!

  2. Grace G

    I should point out tat this story was originally broken by left-of-centre blogger duncan borrowman on duncanborrowman.blogspot.com

  3. Duncan Borrowman

    Come on, if you are going to nick a graphic off my blog give me some credit rather than a Labour candidate from Streatham!

  4. Tony Brown

    RT @leftfootfwd: Racist councillor mocks "foreign names" in email to local Conservative Association http://bit.ly/5bHmcB

  5. sarah

    “Cllr Hobbins has been suspended by the Conservative party.”

    Good. Maybe he should join the BNP instead.

Comments are closed.