Liberal Democrats criticise Hackney Unites for ‘no platform’ stance on UKIP

Mayoral candidates at a hustings event organised by the Hackney Citizen last month. UKIP has not fielded a candidate for Mayor of Hackney, but has a candidate running for election in Dalston. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

A community group has come under fire for excluding a UK Independence Party candidate from its hustings debate taking place in Dalston tonight at the Trinity Centre, Beechwood Road.

Hackney Unites, which describes itself as an “anti-racist community organisation”, has barred UKIP candidate Luke Basevi from taking part in the panel debate between candidates vying for votes as part of local council elections taking place on 22 May.

A statement on the Hackney Liberal Democrats website said ‘no platform’ policies had “no place in a free and open democracy”.

Hackney Unites’ Dalston debate takes place tonight from 6.30pm.

Hackney Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate Simon de Deney said: “We oppose everything that UKIP stands for, but it is not for us, nor for Hackney Unites, nor for anyone, to prevent a declared candidate from attending an open hustings and being heard by the people of Hackney.”

He added: “Individual UKIP candidates have exposed themselves as racist, homophobic, misogynist and generally deluded, but their party does not hold these views as official positions. Attempting to gag their candidates will only make them appear more attractive.

“We have shown that we are not afraid to confront UKIP and we urge others to do the same.”

“Hackney Unites is an excellent community organisation and we appreciate its efforts to bring the parties’ and candidates’ views to the public. But we believe they are mistaken in this and we urge them to reconsider.”

Hackney Unites secretary John Page declined to answer questions over the phone but emailed a statement saying Hackney Unites opposed “the politics of divide and rule, and as such we do not work with organisations that seek to scapegoat communities.”

The statement added: “We were surprised and disappointed to hear that UKIP (a party whose spokespeople have called for Lenny Henry to be ‘go back to a black country’, posted on twitter that we should ‘ban Islam, and knock down all the Mosques’ and denounced British Olympic Gold medal winner Mo Farah for not being British enough) were standing in multi-racial Dalston. The communities of Dalston have for generations had to endure the racism of parties (from the British Union of Fascists onwards) who have sought to blame ‘immigrants’ for unemployment and poor housing. We oppose all ideologies of hatred and are equally concerned about the sexism and homophobia spouted by UKIP spokespeople.”

“It should surprise no-one that Hackney Unites will not work with UKIP, we are certainly under no obligation to let them use our resources to promote their electoral ambitions and we choose not to sully our good name within the community by having any association with them.

“After consulting on the legal position we informed the other candidates of our anti-racist position. We understand that some parties have consequently decided not to attend our community meeting. That is a matter for them. We are free to invite who we like to our meeting; equally, those we invite are free to decline our invitation.”

The Hackney Citizen is awaiting a comment from UKIP.