THE recent 'race row' ignited by the CRE's anti-racist pledge signatories has surely highlighted the fact that this is bound to be a key election issue.

Yet there is more to demonstrating anti-racist credentials than merely signing a piece of paper. One recalls the 'peace in our time' paper held aloft in 1938 to much jubilation. Within a year the whole nation was at war. Without the will to back up a well-intentioned pledge with deeds, signing up to a charter in isolation soon looks very dubious indeed.

Nor can the true test of whether a person can be deemed racist or embracing a multi-cultural society be found in Robin Cook's bizarre 'tikka masala' speech! To try and pinpoint racial issues in so simplistic a manner will surely have offended a great many people. Soundbites will not work on so sensitive an issue for each and every citizen.

It is to be hoped that the forthcoming election will see racial issues debated in a mature manner by all political parties -- and not used as a political football, fuelling unspoken prejudices for the sake of a few votes in the ballot box.

'Urquhart'

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Bury