I FIND it saddening that a serving MP, John Townend, has made such disturbing comments in a speech made at the East Wolds and Coastal Conservative Association annual meeting, held in Driffield, (March 28). Not only did he condemn recent 'immigrants', but he made reference to peoples from Commonwealth countries.

He did not think about the people that he represents. Did he not realise that across the road from the venue of his speech in Driffield there is a Chinese restaurant; that in Bridlington and Pocklington, there are a selection of Chinese, Indian, Thai, Italian and other nationality owned restaurants and take-aways? Was he including these individuals in his condemnation of Britain?

I quote his words grudgingly, "Our homogenous Anglo-Saxon society has been seriously undermined by the massive immigration, particularly coloured immigration, that has taken place since the war."

I hope the comments made by Mr Townend are not seized on by any of the 'usual factions' and that no individual suffers as a result of these comments. I would also be interested to know if the local Conservative Association (as has their party leader) condemned John Townend's speech, and also the views of Greg Knight, the Conservative Parliamentary spokesperson, the man John Townend sees as his successor.

Tracey Simpson-Laing,

Labour Party Parliamentary Spokesperson for East Yorkshire,

Carnot Street,

Leeman Road, York.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, April 02, 2001