U.K. panel seeks to rein in rabble-rousers

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, DEC. 20. As the row over the Tory leader, Mr. William Hague's ``racist'' posturing escalated, the Commission for Racial Equality on Wednesday stepped in to ensure that race issues were not exploited for political purposes in the run up to the general elections.

It asked leaders of all political parties to sign a code of conduct which would bar candidates and their supporters from raising issues that could stir up passions.

The war of words between Mr. Hague and his critics has already caused tension and the Commission is concerned that if the controversy lingers it might vitiate the atmosphere on the eve of the elections.

It has urged the political parties not to wreck the national consensus on race relations and commit themselves to a ``charter'' pledging not to politicise race. A similar charter in the 1997 elections had helped keep race out of the campaign.

The Commission's chairman, Mr. Gurbux Singh has written a letter to leaders of the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru (in the Wales), pointing out that while there was no objection to discussing race issues nobody should be allowed to ``play politics'' with them.

``It would only work if your signature represented your real commitment. It is something the people of Britain have a right to expect. Can you give it,'' the letter asked them.

The letter comes after nearly a week of wrangling which has turned the race issue into what has been described as a ``political football'' and sharpened the ``liberal-reactionary'' divide.

The trouble began when in a speech Mr. Hague attacked ``political correctness'' over race for demoralisation in the police force and rise in street crime. He linked this to the ``liberal elite's'' support for the Macpherson report into the murder of a black teenager Stephen Lawrence which accused the police of ``institutional racism.''

Mr. Hague's argument was that by painting the entire police force as ``racist'' - a charge which Lord Macpherson denied - the report had demoralised the police and affected its efficiency.

He also sought to link the recent murder of a 10-year- old black boy Damilola Taylor with the decline in policing following the Macpherson report. Taylor's parents joined the anti-Hague campaign accusing him of ``insensitivity'' and exploiting the murder of a child for political reasons.

The Tory party vice-chairman, Mr. Steve Norris and the former Tory Prime Minister, Mr. Edward Heath have openly criticised Mr. Hague's remarks, and other senior party leaders are also reported to be unhappy with him.

Mr. Hague, however, has declared that his fight against the ``liberal elite'' which stands in the way of effective policing would continue raising fears in his party that the issue could damage its attempt to build a more ``inclusive'' political agenda ahead of the elections.

Even those who agree with Mr. Hague that policing needs to be improved say that the ``strident'' tone of his original speech and his conduct since then is calculated to excite passions and grab headlines. His jibes at ``political correctness'' and the liberals are seen as unwarranted and intended for ``cheap'' effect.

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Section  : International
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