Ealing Leader Condemns Reported Rise in Racism
Follows the Brexit decision last week
Ealing will 'not tolerate' any form of racism warns Council Leader, Julian Bell.
It follows an apparent increase nationally in individuals reporting incidents and a graffiti attack on the Polish Centre in Hammersmith at the weekend.
Councillor Bell said: '' News that there has been an increase in racist incidents across the country over the weekend is disturbing and any similar hate crimes that are committed in Ealing will not be tolerated. However given that 90% of our residents polled in our last residents’ survey say that they get on well with people from other countries I remain positive that Ealing will remain a cohesive borough where people from many different communities happily live alongside each other.''
'' I'm proud that Ealing voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU but deeply disappointed the country did not do the same. Ealing is the third most diverse Borough in the country and we are comfortable with ourselves and despite this vote we will continue to look outwards and be a place that welcomes and values everyone from all over the world particularly those residents of our Borough from different parts of the EU. We must also continue to make it clear that Ealing is open for business and we will be looking to attract investment into our Borough from Europe despite this decision making things more difficult. We must hope that the dire economic predictions by the experts of the consequences of a leave vote do not come to pass.''
According to the 2011 census, the constituencies with the biggest Polish populations are the London seats of Ealing North, with 8.5%, and Ealing Central, with 6.5%.
Ealing Common Conservative Councillor, Joanna Dabrowska is also Chair of Polish Conservatives. She said:
''
Whilst the country has voted to leave the EU, it is not a xenophobic vote. It had been a vote to regain the control of our economy, our justice system, and our borders. We condemn any xenophobic and racist attacks against Poles and any other heritage that enrich the British Isles. The United Kingdom is made up of many migrants over the decades and we should look forward to work together to build an even stronger nation in the next era of history."
The Polish Embassy has issued this statement:
The Polish Ambassador to Britain, Witold Sobkow, has also urged politicians to condemn what he described as "hate motivated acts".
27th June 2016
