Howard investigated by police over racist allegations

Conservative leader Michael Howard is being investigated by the
police after being accused of inciting racial hatred towards
gypsies, writes Helen McCormack.

The Metropolitan Police investigation follows a complaint by the
Gypsy Council for Education, Culture, Welfare and Civil Rights.

The complaint was reportedly prompted by a speech last month in
which Howard laid out a controversial five-point plan on
travellers’ rights, including a pledge to make trespass by
travellers a criminal offence.

A Conservative Party spokesperson denounced the allegation as
“utterly absurd”, and said Howard had been clear that
only a tiny minority of gypsies did not abide by the law.

She added: “It is not racist to highlight problems with
Britain’s planning law.”