HC Deb 14 June 1976 vol 913 cc30-1
Mr. Thorne

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the matters reported in the Observer yesterday, specifically the speech made by Mr. Kingsley Read, the leader of the National Front, and the growing problem of racialism today. You will probably be aware, Mr. Speaker, that in the speech of Mr. Kingsley Read, reported in the Observer, he is alleged to have said: I have been told that I cannot refer to coloured immigrants so you will forgive me if I refer to niggers, wogs and coons. He is also said to have referred to the recent murder of an Asian youth as One down, one million to go. Recent events in Blackburn, close to my constituency, involving the flooring of a councillor in a fracas and the National Front demonstrations during last week's visit of an Asian peace emmisary, have created a fear among Asians in my constituency. Only a few days ago the windows at the Gujarat Hindu Centre in Preston were broken. All this points to an attempt on the part of racialist forces to challenge the rule of law.

Prosecution of those who deliberately seek to ferment racial disorder, as in my view do the words of Mr. Kingsley Read, must be undertaken as a matter of urgency. The important question posed by these events is whether we wait until the position so deteriorates in various areas of potential explosion or whether we act now to prevent the explosion.

I do not wish to be alarmist or to exaggerate the situation, but the lessons of the 1930s in Germany should have taught us that we cannot afford merely to hope that the problem will disappear. With the possibility of a worsening unemployment situation and the lowering of living standards, scapegoats will be pursued by organisations such as the National Front. The sooner the Government address themselves to this position, the sooner we shall be able to tackle the problem in Britain. It is on that basis that I seek to move the Adjournment of the House so that the matter may be debated.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, racism and the National Front and the speech of Mr. Kingsley Read". As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take account of the several factors set out in the Standing Order but to give no reason for my decision.

I have given careful consideration to all the representations that have been made, but I have to rule that the hon. Gentleman's submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.