Lessons of the town that has fought racism for decades

BUT NOW POLITICIANS ARE COMING WHO HAVEN'T LEARNED MISTAKES OF THE PAST

- BY ROS WYNNE-JONES and MARYAM QAISER

AROUND 10 miles from the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham where Nigel Farage's Reform UK party conference begins today, the town of Smethwick has seen it all before.

In 1964, it was the scene of the most racist election in British history.

Conservative MP Peter Griffiths, a former headmaster, had been elected to Parliament on the slogan: "If you want a n***** for a neighbour, vote Labour".

Last year, exactly 60 years on, in a symbolic moment, Labour's Gurinder Singh Josan became the first person of colour to be elected MP for Smethwick.

In his maiden speech, he spoke of a "change" election, saying: "One example of that change in Smethwick is the fact that 60 years after that disgraceful racist campaign, Ia child and grandchild of immigrants - can be elected to this House," he said.

"That change is the result of many people across Smethwick and Sandwell working hard to build relationships and understanding across all communities."

Smethwick, Singh Josan said, is "an incredibly diverse yet harmonious place" and "a constituency that is embedded in my heart". Now, 14 months after his election, Smethwick's MP fears there are politicians coming to town who have failed to learn the lessons of history.

"We are hearing people say things now in political discourse which people haven't been saying for a long time - that are reminiscent of that terrible racist slogan of 1964," he says.

"On the doorstep it seems clear people are frightened about where this goes next. Communities here are long-established. The fact people are experiencing these levels of hatred created by politicians is entirely wrong - and it's very dangerous for our country."

Reform UK's choice of the West Midlands for its conference goes against the grain of a region known for its "superdiversity", and tolerance between different communities.