I WRITE in reply to last week's letter regarding the MP for Lancaster calling for a debate on racism.

As the Independent candidate for Skerton West where Hilton Dawson lives I thought I would give my side of the argument.

As the person who delivered the leaflets in his area I can categorically state that I did not deliver a leaflet through his door, so he must have asked a neighbour or was given a copy by someone else.

Regarding his attempts to discredit myself and others for using ex-councillor Henig's name, I feel I must point out the simple fact that he was the leader of the council which presided over the mess that this town was in and, in the end, he carried the can.

The fact he was or is from the Jewish community according to Hilton is of no relevance to the issue, he was the Labour leader, he was in charge.

I feel saddened that Hilton Dawson compares our insignificant local election to the holocaust, these comments can only trivialise and cheapen perhaps, one of the saddest moments of world history.

As far as the Lawrence enquiry and Hilton's comments go, are we to stigmatise the people of Castle ward for their 'blatant racism' by voting against Stanley Henig, surely by the very deed of voting against him they have disadvantaged him.

So Hilton, in a few years time when my MP Geraldine Smith again asks for my vote, can I complain about her or would that be: a) racist... because she is of Irish extraction? Or b) sexist... because she is a woman?

Am I now stuck with her forever... frightened to speak out against her in case you jump to her defence for insults only you seem to imagine. Why is it that our other local MP accepts that locally Labour didn't listen and has paid the price in what she calls an election won fair and square?

As politics goes, the phrase 'if you can't stand the heat' certainly does apply.

Philip Broad,

Morecambe

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.