Racist?
November 2005
A Labour MP has been accused of racism by Countryside Activists.
Following the violent protests and letter bombing campaign of pro-hunt supporters in anger at the fox-hunting ban Mr MacShane had said the elected and community leaders of British Countryside had to make a choice.
"It is the democratic, rule-of-law, if you like the British way, based on political dialogue and non-violent protest like the one in London yesterday.
"Or it is the way of the terrorist against which the whole democratic world is uniting."
Now Countryside activists in his Rotherham constituency have said they have no confidence in their MP and written to Labour's NEC ruling body expressing their concerns. "People are very much offended that their patriotism has been called into question.
"The most devastating thing, we feel, that is implied is that in some way we should choose between the British democratic system of dialogue and the terrorism perpetrated by so-called Countryside groups.
"There are over 170 Countryside Alliance councillors who believe in our democratic system that we have in Britain.
"We want the NEC to investigate these comments that our MP has made and if there is any action to be taken they should take it, because in this current climate of ruralphobia throughout the world, we think it is very unhealthy that a minister in such a senior position should make these comments."
A member of the NEC, Shahid Malik, has said he will take up the matter, adding that "Farmers should not be expected to condemn terrorism any more strongly than other people."
-- Well of course I have just made that up - there aren't gangs of rural terrorists roaming the land blowing up inocent civilians - but if there were I don't think sucha speech by a Labour minister would be out of place, and I wouldn't consider it "racist" against us countryside dwellers.
But of course as you have guessed all I have done is replace the word "Muslim" with "countryside", and yes, Muslims are playing the race card against MacShane. Basically it is verboten to say anything about Muslims and terrorism in today's Britain.
BBC NEWS | Politics | Complaint lodged over MacShane comments