Liberal Democrats Demand Explanation of Racist Remarks

Liberal Democrats were outraged by comments attributed to Leading Local Tory over the weekend and have demanded an apology.

"If this has been reported accurately it is an outrage." Stormed Liberal Democrat Leader Michael Headley. "The comments reported in last weeks newspaper are xenophobic claptrap! To talk of "our old people having to pay up to £10 to get one supervised bath a week" and blaming it on simple hygiene procedures for detained Asylum Seekers would be laughable if wasn't so divisive and down right nasty. If the Tories are really concerned about the cost of care for the elderly they should join the Liberal Democrat campaign to make personal care for the elderly free."

"I have written to Conservative central office demanding their leadership conducts a full investigation into this incident." Continued Cllr Headley. "The Liberal Democrat Group will also be urging Bedford Borough Council to disassociate its self from these comments. I have asked Cllr Foster to explain his remarks and apologise. This is a test of Honour for Cllr Foster. If his own personal prejudices prevent him from representing everybody who lives in his ward, he should do the only honourable thing left to him and step down. If he now regrets the comments I expect him to be big enough to apologise unreservedly. If the comments were not reported accurately I want to know what he actually said and what he thinks about the words attributed to him."

"If this matter were not so serious the sheer idiocy of the reported comments would be laughable." Concluded Michael Headley. "They simply do not stand up to the light of day. Does he think Asylum seekers have a choice about whether their hair grows? Or does he expect them to be able to wander down to Clapham for a trim?"