Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
13 December 2010
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to bring your attention to the recent offensive comments made by the leader of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Conservative group, Councillor David Shakespeare.
During a meeting of the LGA’s Executive, Mr Shakespeare said that people living in the north of England should resort to getting work collecting fruit if, as widely predicted, unemployment rises significantly higher in poorer areas of the country over the next four years.
Mr Shakespeare, who is your senior representative within local government for the Conservative Party, said: “The north may replace the Romanians in the cherry orchards…and that may be a good thing.”
Do you appreciate how out of touch, insensitive and insulting these comments are? Doesn’t it just demonstrate that the Tories are still the same old nasty party?
Will you publicly condemn and disassociate yourself from these outrageous remarks? And what action will you take against Mr Shakespeare? Isn’t it time you made it clear that he should consider his position and offer his resignation? I am sure I can arrange some fruit picking in Yorkshire for him, once the weather improves.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Dugher
Member of Parliament for Barnsley East
Thanks for bringing this to the attention of others. I think Labour really fail in getting their message across. What is happening to our great country is a disgrace. The Tories are being allowed to rewrite history because Labour are just not standing their ground and fighting their corner.
I think on the whole I’d prefer my fruit to be picked by Romanians. Probably a damn sight more efficient, for one thing.