Sussex conservatives in the firing line

Wealdon Tories use racial slurs against Chinese elected councillors

Wealden Conservatives have been exposed today by the Kent and Sussex Courier for racial slurs on four Chinese Lib Dem councillors.

In comments since removed from their website they insinuated that the Chinese councilors were not legitimately and lawfully elected by disparagingly referring to them as the ‘Shing Dynasty’.

The controversy follows neighboring Lewes being the focus of national press attention after Times journalist David Smith highlighted the casual racism that his wife who is African Caribbean and their daughters faced when they moved into the area.

OBV Assistant Director commented: "David Cameron's hard work in transforming the party as attractive and relevant to Black and minority communities’ risks being undone by local Tories in Wealdon."

We've already heard about the demonisation of mixed race children in Lewes highlighted by their father the journalist David Smith. And now these offensive references about a Chinese family of councillors.

Racial caricaturing of those that simply want to contribute to civic life and their community does no favours in ditching the persisting Conservative image as the nasty party.

The local association could learn a lesson by immediately accepting responsibility for causing great offence to the Sussex Chinese community and drawing a line under this sorry episode.