HC Deb 28 June 1976 vol 914 cc25-6
41. Mr. Whitehead

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with a view to prosecution for incitement to violence, the recent statements on racial matters by Mr. Kingsley Read.

The Attorney-General

I referred this matter to the Director on 16th June. Police inquiries have been commenced and a report will be submitted to the Director. I shall then consider the evidence to decide what further action is required.

Mr. Whitehead

I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply. Does he accept that, while many in this House feel that free speech is a precious right of every citizen, it cannot abrogate the civil rights of others? The speech referring to One down, one million to go could be taken as gloating over the death of one such citizen and encouraging the deaths of others.

The Attorney-General

I can certainly assure my hon. Friend, and I am sure his views are echoed in all parts of the House, that, if anything corresponding to that which was reported by the Press was in fact said, it is quite deplorable. On the question of prosecution, I must await the report on the evidence of what was said and also on how it fits into the law as it now stands.

Mr. Adley

While I also deplore the statement attributed to Mr. Read, will the Attorney-General take care in what he is doing in view of the fact that the National Front got within a few hundred votes of the Liberals at Rotherham, and would have got seven seats on Leicester City Council if proportional representation had been in operation? We must not create martyrs out of people of that sort by playing into their hands.

The Attorney-General

Yes, I always take care in what I am doing. I agree with the hon. Gentleman to this extent, that it is certainly inadvisable to create martyrs, particularly if, in the process, they are acquitted of the offences with which they are charged. At the same time, if one gets a particularly glaring case it is absolutely right that it should be proceeded with under the law as it stands, and I shall have no hesitation in doing so if the evidence is sufficient.

Mr. Lane

In view of the damage being done to race relations and the alarm caused to minority communities by the statements and activities of Mr. Read and the National Front, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make even clearer that while prosecutions for incitement should be sparingly brought, vigorous action should be taken wherever those activities and statements clearly go beyond the law?

The Attorney-General

Certainly, and that was the effect of my previous answer.