Tory councillor in 'racist' row
A TORY councillor at the centre of a row over an online gag has denied racism was behind the joke.
Cllr Roger Walkden posted the quip about a refugee who wishes to be white on the Dover Forum site, prompting a number of complaints and a call from the office of Conservative leader David Cameron.
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Cllr Roger Walkden
The joke, which suggests the refugee would lose all the things he had been given by a wish-granting fairy if he was white and British, is still online despite the complaints.
Posting on the same website after the complaints were made Cllr Walkden, who represents Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory on Dover District Council, defended himself against any charge of racism.
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He said: "To anyone who has been offended by this joke, I apologise. I apologise unreservedly that it has caused such monumental offence.
"I hope I won't get castigated for saying that I am also sorry that complaints can be made under the umbrella of racism, I have never been racist in my life, I don't have any racist thoughts at all."
A Tory spokesman said: "The Conservative Party does not condone racism in any form. Cllr Walkden has publicly apologised unreservedly for any offence his comments have caused and asked for it to be removed from the website."
*For the full story see next week's Dover Express.
Comments
by Caroline, East Kent
Thursday, March 05 2009, 6:47PM
“For God's sake (if we're still allowed to say that, of course) - what on earth has this country come to? We are cowed by political correctness and I agree totally with Andy Lee of Gravesend.”
by phil wilks, dover
Sunday, March 01 2009, 8:12AM
“another example of the nanny state we live in,it would appear that someone has a grudge with councillor walkden,and is using the race bit to snipe at him.”
by P, n/a
Saturday, February 28 2009, 11:00PM
“i see the google ad for the BNP is well placed then.”
by Andy Lee, Gravesend
Saturday, February 28 2009, 10:22PM
“Full marks to Cllr Walken for highlighting what the vast majority of Brits think and feel!”
by dmh, Crowborough
Friday, February 27 2009, 8:49AM
“Why do people shout racism all the time.Jokes about other groups have been told for thousands of years.
Some people just have no sense of humour.”