South Wales Evening Post - 10 November 2006
I Welcome the swift action from the Tories in suspending last year's Swansea East Parliamentary candidate after her odious views were exposed through emails to colleagues.
I also welcome the Lib Dems' actions in exposing the individual in question.
However, I am concerned the Lib Dem MP Ed Davey then went on to suggest that her views were not unique within the Tory party.
This assertion was not helpful in terms of drawing a clear line between the views of legitimate political parties and fascist groupings such as the BNP.
After all, it was only five years ago that the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate in the very same Swansea East constituency was outed by the Evening Post as having links with extreme Ulster loyalists groups.
Shane Sinclair then went on to advise the BNP on election campaign techniques in England, regrettably with some success.
He did so, using the Lib Dems' very own campaign strategies.
We must accept that from time to time, all political parties have to deal with members with unacceptable racist views.
However, using such incidents to try to smear their opponents is, I suggest, not conducive to creating a united front against the real organised fascists in our communities.
Dai Lloyd AM, Plaid
