Pressure mounts to sack Hillsborough insult Tory

Calderdale Councillor Roger Taylor prompted a storm of protest after Bradford-based human rights charity Just West Yorkshire revealed the contents of emails dismissing the Hillsborough inquiry as "politically correct" and the Macpherson report on Stephen Lawrence's murder as "a joke."

Revelations of the appalling emails have triggered an investigation by the West Yorkshire council's standards committee and demands for his resignation or sacking from general union GMB and Halifax Labour MP Linda Riordan.

Ms Riordan plans to raise the issue in the Commons next month.

Ethnic minority organisations have also joined the chorus of condemnation.

In the emails Mr Taylor claimed that "most acts of terrorism are committed by Muslims" and wrote of last year's riots: "we know the vast number of vile and hatred riddled rioters were black or non-white."

Ms Riordan said she was "appalled" by the e-mails and said Mr Taylor should be sacked.

"The tone and nature of the comments are utterly despicable. They are an insult to the families of Hillsborough bereaved, who will be sickened when they read them," she said.

"To dismiss the Hillsborough report as 'politically correct' is simply an outrage. To also talk about people 'suffocating on the terraces' is absolutely awful."

She is calling on Tories in Calderdale and nationally to dissociate themselves from his comments, and said he is not fit to hold office.

Labour councillor leader Tim Swift said: "We are working hard on community cohesion in Calderdale. We could do without a councillor wrecking it."

GMB north western regional secretary Paul McCarthy said: "Mr Taylor's comments are a disgrace and demeaning to the memory of victims who died in the Hillsborough tragedy and the families who have now found some comfort in the pivotal moment this report marks in their quest for justice."

Lobby group Operation Black Voice said Mr Taylor's comment on the Lawrence inquiry "not only offends the memory of Stephen Lawrence, but also dismisses his battle for justice."

peterlazenby@peoples-press.com