Tory lawmaker forced to apologise for remarks against Indians

Prasun Sonwalkar

London, June 12 (PTI) A Conservative lawmaker here was
forced to apologise after blaming Indian immigrants for
littering and alleging that a "disregard for the cleanliness
of a public area is normal behaviour" in India.
Lucy Ivimy, a councillor in Hammersmith and Fulham, said
in an email to housing officials that Indians in Britain need
to be taught that throwing rubbish from windows is "not
acceptable behaviour."
But local residents at Woodford Court estate, a high-rise
tower block in Shepherd's Bush, London, said there was no
proof that Indian immigrants were responsible for tossing
rubbish from windows into the communal gardens below.
Ivimy, 53, who sits on the Tory-run Hammersmith and
Fulham Council, wrote in the email: "I think we need to sort
out some regular cleaning up of the garden and conduct an
educational exercise to tell people not to throw stuff out of
the window - particularly foreign-born residents.
"I know that in India throwing rubbish out of a window
and total disregard for the cleanliness of a public area is
normal behaviour and I dare say a number would change
behaviour if firmly told that in London this is not acceptable
behaviour."
The email drew widespread criticism from opposition
councillors and residents on the estate, sparking allegation
of racism.
Ivimy apologised for the e-mail, and agreed that her
comments may have been offencive and was a "hastily written,
ill thought out, stupid, personal email."
Stephen Cowan, leader of the Labour group on the council,
said Ivimy had no proof to back up her claims.
Cowan said: "Across the board it's a minority of
residents who throw rubbish out of windows and leave it in
corridors.
"They are from all backgrounds and there is continuous
education about what is acceptable behaviour, but it is
completely wrong to say it is just people from India and all
this shows is her inherent prejudice."
Expressing regret, Ivimy said: "This was a hastily
written, ill-thought out, stupid, personal email. On
reflection of course I can see how the comments may be
offensive. That was never my intention and therefore I
apologise.
"My absolute priority is to improve our estates and thus
improve the lives of tenants and leaseholders. I will continue
to do everything I can to achieve that."
Local resident Dang Sakares, 51 told the media: "I've
never seen people throwing rubbish out of the windows. In
fact, I don't think I've seen any Indian people in this
block."
Deana Maddix, chairman of the residents' association,
said: "We don't know who is throwing the rubbish, that's the
whole point. We would never mention any race, this is all
lies."
Residents pointed out that families living in the tower
block are mainly from Afro-Caribbean, Chinese and eastern
European backgrounds and that there were only a handful of
Indian families living there.