Andrew Rosindell's protestations that he did not "write or approve" an immigration leaflet look increasingly weak. He was campaigning the day it was delivered.
Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell’s protestations that he did not “write or approve” a leaflet delivered in his name in his Romford constituency look increasingly weak. He was out campaigning on the day the leaflet was delivered and has form on immigration.
The Observer yesterday outlined that:
“David Cameron’s Tories were accused last night of dog-whistle politics after the Conservative leader appeared on the front of flyers saying the floodgates had been opened to mass immigration. Critics say the flyers are alarmist and misleading because they imply limits could be imposed on entrants from EU countries such as Poland…
“Rosindell said last night: “I did not write or approve this councillors’ flyer. Immigration is an important issue but, as David Cameron has made clear, we must be careful with both the facts and the language we use. This flyer falls short on both counts, and I shall be pointing that out to the councillors.” However, the material stated that it was “promoted” by the MP.”
But these denials look increasingly thin as it emerged that the MP was out campaigning in the Mawneys ward in Havering on the day the leaflet was delivered. Local Labour party chair Dan Young – who lives in Mawneys ward – received a copy of the leaflet on February 13th. Rosindell’s facebook status was updated at 6.35pm that day:
Political Scrapbook have also revealed that Rosindell “has form on race politics”:
“In a blogpost noting the striking similarities between aspects of Rosindell’s website and far-right campaign materials, Scrapbook wrote last December: ”The MP for Romford has tabled a mere 102 questions on asylum and immigration and was a member of an organisation which advocated the voluntary repatriation of ethnic minorities until he was forced to resign by Iain Duncan Smith.””
Left Foot Forward has submitted the following questions to Mr Rosindell’s office but been told that he is not available for interview:
1. At what point did you become aware of the existence of the leaflet?
2. Had you seen the leaflet (or a draft version) before the distribution on February 13th?
3. Although you are quoted as saying you “did not write or approve this councillors’ flyer”, did you have any role in the distribution of the leaflet on Feb 13th?
4. Do you know why the leaflet was only distributed in one ward of the constituency?
UPDATE 17.09
On Labour List, James Maker writes:
“Two weeks ago I was appalled to receive the material through my own front door. My first reaction was “I’ve never seen BNP material in my ward before – they must be targeting new areas”. However, on closer inspection, it came to my attention that this was in fact the local Tories…
“is it a coincidence that on the very week that this leaflet was making its way into homes across the consistency, that during PMQs on February 10th 2010, Rosindell rose to ask the Prime Minister “will the government consider introducing a cap on immigration?””
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26 Responses to “Did Rosindell deliver the leaflets he denies approving?”
Political Scrapbook
RT @leftfootfwd: Immigration leaflet row deepens: Did Rosindell deliver the leaflets he denies approving? http://cli.gs/9Umap
James Maker
please can you amend where you say Dan Young received the leaflet – you put march 13th, it should be feb 13th. Also, check out my piece on labourlist on the whole affair – http://www.labourlist.org/tory-leflet-cameron-rosindell-immigration
Henry
Are these Tory councillors to be disciplined or suspended?
James Maker
well, i wouldnt think so. but as i say in my labourlist blog, all this seriously calls into question Rosindell’s role in the shadow home office team. the evidence suggest that he knew about the leaflet, despite his claim yesterday.
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