Romsey Labour and the constituency party stand against all forms of extremism in their fight to achieve a more equal and fair society.

Dave Baigent spoke at the Public Meeting in Cambridge March 10TH, 7.30pm
 The Holocaust – Lessons for Anti Racists Today 
Erasmus Room, Queens College, CB3 9ET.

This was reported in the Cambridge Evening News and some of the replies suggest a significant problem,

Over 30 people crowded into a room in Queen’s College Cambridge on Monday to attend a Unite Against Fascism meeting on The Lessons of the Holocaust for anti Fascists today.

Romsey Labour and the City Labour Group support the view that extremist groups should be opposed and Dave Baigent spoke at this event as did Philippe Harari (NUT), Weyman Bennett (UAF) and the O’Briens from Smith Fen.

There was a short film made by the daughter of the O’briens about the treatment of travellers.  There was then a moving account from local travellers who spoke of the victimisation and discrimination they and other travellers experienced and their plight as they faced eviction by South Cambs District Council.

Weyman Bennett, joint national secretary of Unite Against Fascism, spoke about how his trips to the sights of the concentration camps has convinced him of the importance of building the March 22nd national demonstration against racism so that we can ensure that migrants, Muslims, Roma or any other minority are never victimised and persecuted in the horrific way that the Jews were in Nazi Germany.

Dave Baigent spoke on behalf of Cambridge Constituency Labour Party about how doing nothing when hearing or experiencing racism was not an option.  Dave also relayed some personal experiences associated with his protest against the EDL laying a wreath at the war memorial on June 1st.  Support was also expressed to the O’briens and Dave promised to bring their plight to the attention of his party and as with all types of racism he would challenge anti Gypsy bigotry.

Philippe Harari, a local teacher and NUT activist, described the effect that anti racist education can have in counteracting the barrage of subtle racism from the main stream media.

Romsey Labour – Knocking on a door near you all the year around.
As the Romsey Candidate people say to me that local politics is about local issues.  I agree, but first you have to recognise that National Politics has a considerable control over the local.  The ConDems set the frameworks and most importantly the budgets.  So when you vote locally remember this.

Remember also how available your local party or candidate is.  Labour have been door knocking for the whole year.  We do not sit in our office and phone people or simply send out newsletters.  Our structure is transparent and open.  We meet each month as a ward committee and in our constituency committees.  But most importantly we are available to the people of Romsey.  As the candidate I pledge to listen and to act on behalf of residents.