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Laura Midgley on ITV's This Morning and in the BBC Radio Stoke Studio during
 a live phone-in on political correctness.

Morris dancers cancelled from school's diversity and culture show
30 June 2009

The headmistress of Chantry Primary School, Hazel King, cancelled a booking for Morris Men saying: ‘We organised the event to bring a diverse and fragile community together.  To celebrate all cultures we booked a Morris troupe, having failed to recognise the possible significance for our community of their tradition to perform with blackened faces.  We found ourselves in a difficult position of weighing up any potential offence versus not wishing to compromise the Morris dancers’ tradition.’

Laura Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, has written to the headmistress asking if she can explain what is wrong with being black which could, as she says, cause offence. Laura Midgley also enclosed a copy of an article which refers to Nelson Mandela's support for a councillor who had blacked up his face to go to a fancy dress party (but later found himself at the centre of a race row) asking Hazel King for her comments on his intervention.

Nelson Mandela's official spokesman said at the time of the incident involving the councillor: "We are not oversensitive about matters like these. Whilst we need to be respectful towards the character [of] events of this nature, we should try not to read racism into actions which may be completely innocent."  The full comment can be read here in an article in The Guardian.

Click here to read the full story about the Morris Dancers in the Daily Mail.

Police in Scotland to be judged on performance on diversity issues
23 June 2009

Police officers and civilian staff in Scotland will undergo a review throughout the year of how they are performing in “respect for diversity” issues. This, along with their performance in other skills, will decide their promotion prospects. Northern Constabulary Chief Constable Ian Latimer unveiled the plans at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan and said they had nothing to with political correctness. He said, “Promoting equality and recognising diversity is fundamental to the success of policing.  Understanding, promoting and respecting equality and diversity are key components in creating greater and sustained public confidence and trust in policing, as both a service provider and employer."

The Campaign Against Political Correctness said, "What seems ominous is that officers could be judged on how well they have taken the diversity agenda on board. Their promotion could depend on it which seems Orwellian.”

Click here to read the full story in the Scottish Daily Express.

The Data Protection Act cannot be used as an excuse to ban parents taking photos of their children
23 June 2009

Deputy Information Commissioner David Smith has joined the debate about the banning of parents or grandparents taking photos of children.  He said: 'We recognise that parents want to capture significant moments on camera.  We want to reassure them and other family members that whatever they might be told, data protection does not prevent them taking photographs of their children and friends at school events.  Photographs taken for the family photo album are exempt from the Act and citing the Data Protection Act to stop people taking photos or filming their children at school is wrong.'

Specific examples of what is allowed as far as they are concerned include a parent taking 'a photograph of their child and some friends taking part in the school sports day to be put in the family photo album' and the video recording of school nativity plays.

Click here to read the whole article in the Daily Mail.

Now it is a "Gypsy Month" that is proposed for schools in the Black Country
15

Sandwell Council’s Equality and Diversity Scrutiny Panel has made a list of 23 recommendations for the local authority to consider in order to prevent discrimination against nomadic communities and having a "Gypsy Month" in schools is one of the proposals they have put forward.  Cultural awareness training could also be made compulsory for anyone in regular, direct contact with gipsies or travellers. John Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "This is a suggestion for yet another so-called minority "month".  The calendar is increasingly becoming taken up by these events - soon there will not be enough months in the year to include every group of people and surely that will be discrimination against another group who has not yet had a month allocated to them!"

Click here for the link to the full story in the Express and Star.

New Doncaster Mayor, Peter Davies, says public funding for gay pride marches should be cut
6 June 2009

The newly elected mayor of Doncaster and founder member of the Campaign Against Political Correctness has said that public funding for gay pride marches should be cut.  Peter Davies said: "My policy is very simple.  I have nothing whatsoever against gays and lesbians, what they do in their private lives is absolutely fine" but that councils should not be spending money on parades about sexuality.

Click here for the story on the BBC News website.

Doctors concerned about use of politically correct jargon at work
4 June 2009

Senior anaesthetist Dr Peter Bamber led moves at the British Medical Association's consultants' conference to ban the euphemisms that are infiltrating the NHS.  He raised concerns about the use of politically correct language in the NHS which turns patients into 'clients' and 'service users'.  Dr Bamber said: 'We see all sorts of phrases creeping into the NHS. Some of it is an attempt to destigmatise conditions, but I do not think there is anything wrong with the use of "patient".  Using something else suggests the condition may be something the person should just snap out of and that is damaging in itself.'

Philip Davies MP opposes introduction of Association of Muslim Police
3 June 2009

In Business Questions in the House of Commons today Philip Davies MP said: "May we have a debate on organisations within the police force that undermine cohesion? We already have the deeply divisive National Black Police Association and West Yorkshire police has just announced that it is forming an association of Muslim police. I suggest to the Leader of the House that those organisations are extremely unhelpful, deeply divisive and do nothing to promote community cohesion and the principle of integration. May we have a debate on that issue, because many of my constituents and many people in my part of the world find such things entirely unacceptable?"

Click here to read the whole piece in Hansard.

M&S Chairman says that women have never had it so good at work
1 June 2009

In an interview for The Observer Magazine, Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman of Marks and Spencer said:

Rose also dismissed the idea that having children can create an uneven playing field for working mothers saying: "Childbirth is a biological fact," he said. "Women have children: I can't help that. But I know lots of women who have got two or three kids - Nicola Horlick is a good example - there are many girls in here [Marks & Spencer] who have got two kids who come to work. Kate Bostock [recently appointed to oversee the company's UK merchandising operation, including clothes and homeware] has got two or three kids and she's running the full-time, biggest buying job in the UK, so it can be done."

Click here to read the whole story in The Observer.

Reclaiming the word "diversity"
31 May 2009

The winners of Britain's Got Talent this year, dance group "Diversity", have reclaimed the "D" word from the PC zealots.  The brothers and friends chose the name to reflect the diverse nature of the group rather than, as has sadly become the norm, the opposite.  Instead of a false forced diversity where people are chosen based purely on their race, age etc etc they were naturally diverse and gelled perfectly as a group.  They were inventive, talented and a pleasure to watch - if you did not catch any of their acts you should be able to see their fantastic final performance on the link below. We won't say this very often but congratulations to "Diversity"!

American "Simpsons" style TV programme pokes fun at political correctness
29 May 2009

"The Goode Family" have hit TV screens in America satirising, amongst other things, political correctness.  The Goode family try to do the right thing and be politically correct at all times.  Yet this show highlights many of the problems that arise when you have an obsession with being politically correct but do not really understand that actions speak louder than words and that it is better to treat people as human beings rather than trying to put them all into neat tick boxes and treating them differently as a result.  Just click below to watch a trailer for the programme.

Kung Fu Flid film launched with actor who is "so bored of political correctness"
27 May 2009

Photo © The News Of The World

BBC actor Mat Fraser is trying to change public perception of the term "flid" saying, "Yeah, I'm a flid - what of it?  I'm aware it's going to sound negative to some people, but it's like the n-word. That's negative, isn't it?  Then it was reclaimed by the rap community. I'm trying to reclaim the f-word, if you like, as something positive."

He suggests that offensive terms have a generational link.

He also said, "I think some people, particularly the liberal ended press, might get the wrong end of the stick.  They might feel all 'ooooh ooooh we can't say that' 'cause they're all imprisoned by political correctness.  I'm so bored of political correctness - it hasn't really done me a lot of favours in my life."

Click here for the full story in the News Of The World and to watch Mat Fraser views on video.

Political row in Northern Ireland over lighthearted reference to Alzheimer's disease
21 May 2009

Sammy Wilson MP has been criticised for saying to SDLP assembly member Patsy McGlone that "perhaps Alzheimer's disease [had] set in" during an exchange.  Patsy McGlone asked the speaker Willie Hay to examine the remarks but the speaker subsequently found that the use of the phrase was not "unparliamentary".  When criticised by Patsy McGlone and the Alzheimer's Society in Northern Ireland, Sammy Wilson said, "My mother and father, at the end of their lives, did not recognise any of us because of Alzheimer's – sometimes people try to address the seriousness of this by trying to make light of it with loved ones rather than increasing their fear. I don't regret making the remark because first of all, I didn't make it to be intentionally hurtful to people who have suffered from Alzheimer's, it was made in a context where people knew it was a lighthearted remark, and it didn't hurt anybody at the time. It was resurrected a month later by somebody seeking to make a political point from it."

Click here for the full story in the Guardian.

Penny Vincenzi joins list of women opposing the Government's "Equality" agenda
14 May 2009

Following on from Harriet Harman's drive for so-called "Equality" which culminated in the second reading of the Equality Bill on Monday, author Penny Vincenzi has the following to say:

Last week, I had lunch with a group of remarkably successful women. They worked in advertising, and among them were the creative director of a major firm in New York, the head of research of a company in London, and the copywriting chief of one of the biggest firms in Manhattan. All of them were married and had a child or two, and they all clearly earned a lot of money and had plenty of fun, in and out of the office. You might think how wonderful it is that, thanks to the works of the great feminists plus enlightened legislation, they had been able to reach such dizzy heights and not come into collision with any glass ceilings. But you'd be wrong; for these women were hugely successful in the Sixties and Seventies, long before Harriet Harman's cackhanded new proposals to allow firms to actively discriminate in favour of female candidates  -  indeed, before the phrase 'positive discrimination' had even been coined. 

Smiling sweetly at me over her glass of wine, she [a friend] then added: 'All the whingeing that went on from women because they said they were being discriminated against, I just didn't get it. The truth was simply that they weren't good enough.' Her comment will infuriate women who feel they've smacked their heads repeatedly against a glass ceiling. In our politically correct times, it's taboo to suggest women lose out in the workplace simply because they aren't up to the job.  

I did get quite spectacularly fired once from my job as a fashion editor, and while I was away having a baby, too (in those days maternity leave was precisely six weeks). But you know what? It wasn't because I was away having a baby, it was because I was a not-very-good fashion editor. It was hard to admit at the time, but I got over it.  How many women today who lose their jobs on maternity leave would accept, as I did, that it's because they are not up to the role? Most would run to find a lawyer.  I also missed out on the most brilliant job on a newspaper about a year after that; and that was also because I had two small children. I couldn't face working late, night after night, at that stage in my life - which was part of the job description - and said so at the interview. I wouldn't have taken me on either.  I think this is an important factor: very few women are actually comfortable working 12-hour days while their children are very small. Most of us go for a softer option - but that's not because we face male oppression, it's because we want to be home for bathtime.

There has been a lot of similar whining from the sisterhood about the small number of women (still) in Parliament. Lots of excuses about the reason: a male-dominated culture, anti-family hours, no facilities for breastfeeding.  Well, I'm sorry, but what about the giantesses among female politicians: Barbara Castle, Shirley Williams and Thatcher?  And the resoundingly wonderful Bessie Braddock, 'Battling Bessie', for heaven's sake, who became a Labour MP for Liverpool in 1945, when feminism had certainly never been heard of.  These women just got on with it. Ann Widdecombe was singing from my song-sheet when she spoke of a Blair Babe complaining a few years ago about how rude men in the Commons were to her.  'It wasn't because she was a woman. It was because she was useless,' she said briskly.

Click here to read Penny Vincenzi's whole article in the Daily Mail.

Scotland's Equality and Human Rights Commissioner says phrase undermines fight against racism
13 May

The long used phrase we're all Jock Tamson's bairns has been criticised by Scotland's Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, Morag Alexander.  She said, "It strikes me that too often we seek comfort in a Scottish consensus that we are all Jock Tamson’s bairns, ­ citizens of a fair and equal nation.  We have to be braver about the change that is required to make a fairer Scotland, and part of that means looking afresh at whether the consensus holds."  Laura Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said, "It is a positive saying, so to criticise it is silly. If you start concentrating on things like that you are going to take time and effort away from fighting real racism.  Click here for the story in the Scottish Daily Express.

Campaign Against Political Correctness named in Parliament as only organisation opposing Equality Bill
13 May 2009

In a question put to the Prime Minister in today's Question Time, it was suggested that the Campaign Against Political Correctness was the only organisation opposing the new Equality Bill.  Whilst we are aware of other organisations and certainly lots of people opposing this new Equality Bill, it is certainly true that we oppose the Bill.  The reasons for this opposition are summarised quite clearly in Philip Davies MP's speech in the House of Commons on Monday (click here for the speech).  We completely support equality of opportunity but reject equality of outcome as a dangerous, nonsensical, unachievable objective which encourages racism and sexism (amongst other things) and constantly seeks to divide people into politically correct tickboxes rather than treat us as human beings.  

Equality Bill debated in Parliament
11 May 2009

The House of Commons debated the Equality Bill today when it had its second reading.  The Bill can be found here and seen below in all its 500 page glory.  Philip Davies MP, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, spoke against the Bill in the chamber of the House of Commons.  Others opposing the Bill in their speeches included Graham Brady MP.  Click here to read Philip's whole speech in Hansard (click the "next" section to read on).

In advance of the Bill, Minette Marrin wrote an excellent article in the Sunday Times, "I suspect many people don’t appreciate how hugely this [Equality Agenda] has all developed since the Macpherson report of 1999 into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Post-Macpherson, according to the EHRC [Equality and Human Rights Commission], it was clear that a “radical rethink” was needed about the way the public sector approached discrimination.  That rethink was a great deal more radical than many of us have ever quite appreciated. A rejection of wrongful discrimination has somehow been transformed into a compulsory imposition of equality – an endless task, in any case, since it is quite impossible."  In another article she said, "Here we have a spectacle that is about as bad for women as it gets. Female politicians, many promoted above their ability, seek to promote another woman above her democratic entitlement and against their own principles and meanwhile legislate to promote working women over men. With supporters like Harman and her crew, we women do not need enemies. "

Click here for the full article in the Sunday Times.

Latest golly row breaks out in Suffolk
9 May 2009  

Another storm is brewing in Sudbury, Suffolk, following complaints about the sale of golly dolls in a shop called "Thing-Me-Bobs".  Hamil Clarke, chairman of the Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality, said: "I would really like to complain that they should not be allowed to get away with it. On a scale of one to five of it being offensive I would say it is an eight. It is highly offensive. It is surprising the mentality of some people who do not know how offensive they can be."  However, Wendy Jee, the shop's store manager, said she thought the dolls were innocent fun. She thought it was "a shame" that "a few people" found them offensive.  She said: "There has been quite a high demand for the gollies since we sold out of them last time.  So many customers are coming in for them it is unbelievable. A lot of people had them in their childhood and now want them for their grandchildren."

As we have re-iterated so many times in this news section, this latest row will do nothing to help race relations and this is certainly not an issue where opinions are drawn along the lines of people's as some might think.

Click here for the full story in the Daily Telegraph.

UPDATE:  Yet again, sales of golliwogs have increased following this latest criticism - click here for the updated story in the East Anglian Daily Times.

MEPs sent guide to "Gender Neutral Language in the European Parliament" - UPDATE
2 April 2009

Roger Helmer MEP, Christopher Heaton-Harris MEP and Martin Callanan MEP have now tabled a written declaration calling for a new Parliamentary gender language guidance booklet to be withdrawn.

The guidance (mentioned in an earlier news story below) issued in the new 'Gender-Neutral Language' pamphlet states that the terms "Mrs" and "Miss" should be avoided.  The politically correct rules also mean a ban on continental titles, such as Madame and Mademoiselle, Frau and Fraulein and Senora and Senorita.  

Roger Helmer said that, according to the booklet, MEPs must say "flight attendant", not stewardess; "fire-fighter", not fireman; business executive, not businessman. They are asked not even to say "man-made", but to use "synthetic" or "artificial" instead.
 
He said that while the EU claims to celebrate diversity "it can't even recognise the difference between men and women."

Christopher Heaton-Harris said that a person's sex is fundamental to their sense of identity.  "It is an essential part of who they are, how they wish to be characterised, and how they relate to other people. This is just another example of political correctness gone mad in the European parliament.  It's time to make a stand for common sense," he said.

Councillor caught up in homophobia incident after light-hearted quip at a public meeting
30 March 2009

At a public meeting to discuss policing in Wolverhampton, participants were asked to use an electronic handsets to record their votes on different issues.  The first question was about their sex and they were asked to 'Press A if you're male or B if you're female.'  Someone then said: 'What if you're transgendered?' to which Councillor Jonathan Yardley said; 'You could press A and B together.' 

Unbeknown to Mr Yardley, the person who had asked the question was partner to a transgendered individual, also at the meeting, a complaint was made and, as a result, he was spoken to by police for his 'homophobic' remark.

Councillor Yardley said: 'They put me through the mill and asked me to confirm what I'd said and told me that a complaint had been made and I could be prosecuted.  I find it ridiculous you can get in trouble over an off-the-cuff remark, with no malice intended. I didn't even know there was a transgender person there.  There are much more important issues that the police should be spending their time on. These are the politically correct times we live in. You can't make jokes any more.'

Click here to read the full story in the Daily Mail and here to read Councillor Yardley's letter in the Daily Telegraph.

Sir David Jason in "racist" joke row
26 March 2009

In an interview on a radio programme, Sir David Jason was asked to leave a question for the next guest.  He replied: 'What do you call a Pakistani cloakroom attendant? Me hat, me coat.'  It is probably a play on words around the name of the Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi.  A spokesman for Absolute Radio said there had been no complaints to the station from listeners, but the show's host Christian O'Connell would apologise on-air today. Some people were quick to call the joke racist.

John Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: 'David Jason is a national treasure.  What's the world coming to when someone is criticised for telling an innocent joke which is in no way offensive? Instead of being politically correct, people should grow up.'

Britain's first Muslim minister, Shahid Malik, who is of Pakistani origin, said he did not see the joke as racist. 'It really is a storm in a tea cup,' he said. 'I'm a big fan of David Jason. The only thing is he's let me down because it's not very funny.'

A spokesman for Sir David, one of Britain's best-loved actors, said: 'He's distressed that it upset people and is really sorry if it did. He made a joke which he thought was quite funny and he did not perceive it as a racist anymore than if it had been about an English person or a Scottish person.'  

As a Daily Mail reader said: 'If it was a Scottish Cloakroom attendant, and you called him Angus Me Coat Up, would that also have caused offence? I don't think so!"

Click here to read the full story in the Daily Mail and here to read an interesting piece by Lorne Jackson in the Sunday Mercury.

Boris Johnson announces various celebrations for St George's Day
23 March 2009

Boris Johnson plans a week-long St George's Day celebration this year and will fly the red and white flag from City Hall on April 23rd after saying that the capital had ignored the occasion for far too long.  He said: "St George’s Day has been ignored in London for far too long but I’m truly pleased to announce some fantastic events to mark this occasion".

John Midgley, co-founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said Mr Johnson’s plans were a victory for common sense. He said: “It’s a refreshing change that someone of authority has got the guts to celebrate England’s patron saint and all that goes with it, instead of marginalising St George’s Day in the name of political correctness.”

Click here for the story in the Daily Express and here for the story in the Daily Star.

Sri Lankan businessman and councillor tells customers to learn English and says that if he was white he would "end up in jail"
18 March 2009

Photo: Copyright Daily Mail

Deva Kumarasiri, who is a councillor and also runs a sub-post office inside a corner shop in Nottingham, has said that 'Nobody stands up for anything in Britain any more'. He says it's "the best country in the world as far as I'm concerned, but the great country I once called Great Britain has changed a lot since I came here. All I'm doing is telling people that if they want to live in Britain, be British.  Don't boo our soldiers when they come home from Iraq. Don't live your life without embracing our culture. Don't stay here without making any effort to learn the language. And if you don't want to be British, go home.  Our laws are written in English; our culture is chronicled in English. How can anybody understand that if they can't understand English?  I tell them if they don't speak the language and they can't be bothered to learn, then don't bother coming here. It's up to them whether they take any notice - but if they want to live here in Britain, they should take notice.  The fabric of the nation begins to unravel if we don't all speak the same language. You can't be wholly part of British culture if you don't speak the language.  When I left Sri Lanka I left behind that country's culture, customs and language. I have done my utmost ever since to be part of this country's culture. There are far too many people who come here and expect Britain to change to suit them.  White people can't say what I'm saying because they'd end up in jail.  I decided to make this stand because I think too many British people are afraid to talk out.'

Click here to read the article in the Nottingham Evening Post and here to read Amanda Platell's take on the issue in the Daily Mail.

UPDATE: Mr Kumarasiri has had difficulties with his work since this and appears to now no longer be working with the employment agency who were responsible for his job. The Gedling Liberal Democrat Leader has also said: "The views expressed go well beyond what we can accommodate.”

MEPs sent guide to "Gender Neutral Language in the European Parliament"
12 March 2009

A booklet called "Gender Neutral Language in the European Parliament" has been sent to MEPs giving them guidance on what terms they should and should not use.  West Midlands MEP, Philip Bradbourn, said, "The booklet, issued to all MEPS, instructs the use of gender neutral language in the European Parliament. Under the new ruling, MEPs who use the term ‘chairman’ when addressing a female chairman are likely to be brought to book and told to use the more politically correct terms, ‘chairperson’, ‘chair or ‘madam chair’.  It even goes as far as to suggest that when travelling on planes, MEPs should not use the term air hostess.  This politically correct nonsense has gone too far, is a waste of taxpayers’ money and an erosion of the English language as we know it.  I will have no part of it. I will continue to use my own language and expressions, which I have used all my life, and will not be instructed by this institution or anyone else in these matters. I find this publication offensive in the extreme. That I should be instructed on how to speak my own language and the terms to use in my work as an MEP is not only discourteous but also represents a gross intrusion into my personal freedom to express myself in a manner in which I feel appropriate in any given circumstance. The Parliament, by the publication of this document, is not only bringing itself as an Institution into more disrepute than it already suffers but is also showing that it has succumbed to the politically correct claptrap currently in vogue."

Laura Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness said, "These types of language guides are a colossal waste of time and money.  Many women could not care less what they are called.  In fact, in an ICM Opinion Poll, 79% of women said they were fed up with political correctness and with this sort of politically correct interfering it is easy to see why. Treating elected politicians like schoolchildren is thoroughly insulting and we commend Philip Bradbourn for opposing this Orwellian intervention."

Philip Davies MP stands up for men in Parliament in politically correct debate on women
5 March 2009

In a debate in the House of Commons today entitled "Support for Women (Economic Downturn)" to coincide with International Women's Day (!!!!), Philip Davies MP, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness made several interventions:

Philip Davies: As the right hon. and learned Lady points out, the debate is about supporting women and families through the downturn. Does she not agree that the Government’s duty is to support everybody through the downturn based on their need, irrespective of their gender, and that men should be given as much support as women if they need it? Is she saying that the need to support women is more important than the need to support single men, gay men or men with families?

Harriet Harman: I do not know whether the hon. Gentleman was listening, but I was just explaining that because women are the main family carers, because they are more likely to work part time, because they are more concentrated in some sectors of the economy than in others and because their work is vital to our public services, we need to ensure that we do not overlook the work of women, which has become even more important to our economy and public services over the past 10 years.

_______

Philip Davies: My right hon. Friend said that certain things give equality a bad name. Does she agree that one of those is the fact that the Equality and Human Rights Commission goes round lecturing all sorts of organisations about equality of pay and is given taxpayers’ money to make sure that everyone is paid equally, yet the same organisation, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, pays men more than women, non-disabled people more than disabled people, and white people more then ethnic minorities? Is that not rather hypocritical on the part of that organisation?

Theresa May: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the point that he makes. The EHRC needs to look at its own practices, as does Government in some of those areas. As my hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) pointed out in business questions, the disability pay gap in the Government is significant—in some Departments, such as the Home Office, rising above 40 per cent.

Minister announces plans for a review of unemployment by race
2 March 2009

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell told Labour's Black Asian and Minority Ethnic annual general meeting in Leicester that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will assess the impact of unemployment on ethnic minorities, women, the disabled and older workers and advise ministers on steps to take.  Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, Philip Davies MP, said: 'This is simply outrageous. The Government should be targeting support at all who need it.  The Government should be colour blind when it comes to looking who needs help. Doing otherwise will only entrench racism, as far as I'm concerned. The Government should be looking now to help the groups that have already been hit, like savers. This is the sort of thing that gives politics a bad name - ministers talking to different groups and telling them what they want to hear. It drives me to distraction.'

Click here to read the story in the Daily Mail.

MP criticises school for changing Romeo and Juliet to Romeo and Julian 
27 February 2009

Children at Leytonstone School in East London performed an adapted version of Romeo and Juliet - re-named Romeo and Julian.  In the alternative production, the infamous balcony scene features Romeo serenading his male lover with the words: 'Wherefore art thou Julian.'  Luke Burton, headteacher at Leytonstone School, described the children's efforts as 'inspirational'.  The production was yesterday criticised in the Commons by Philip Davies MP, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, who said that children should be learning the original work rather than a 'politically correct' version.  Mr Davies, who yesterday called for a Commons debate on political correctness, said: 'This is mind-blowing. Anyone with an ounce of sense would want their children to be learning Romeo and Juliet rather than Romeo and Julian.'  A spokesman for the Campaign against Political Correctness said: 'Romeo and Juliet is one of the greatest works ever written. It is a play that every child should study.  It is very worrying that this literary masterpiece is being used for such a politically correct purpose.'  

Click here to read the exchange between Philip Davies and Harriet Harman in the House of Commons, here to read the story in the Daily Mail, here to read the piece in the Daily Star and here to read the coverage in The Times of India.

Hazel Blears criticises political correctness
25 February 2009

The Government's Communities Secretary has criticised political correctness in a series of interviews this week.  Her message is that she feels that political correctness has gone too far and details of her actual speech can be found here.  Although Hazel Blears has been part of a Government which has increased the amount of political correctness in this country (and even the day before launched a new race equality consultation) let's hope she can give some practical examples as to how she will play her part - and encourage the rest of the Government to follow suit - in reducing legislation and ultimately reducing political correctness.  Click here for an article in the Telegraph and Argus newspaper on the stance of Philip Davies, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness on this subject.

BT staff suspended over offensive Irish joke e-mail
23 February 2009

To see a collection of Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman jokes click here.

30 BT call centre staff have been suspended for forwarding on an e-mail containing an Irish joke. The e-mail was circulated around staff working at the BT call centre in Leicester - which employs 340 people - two weeks ago.  BT apparently then suspended every worker who had forwarded the joke to someone else and warned them that they face disciplinary action.  One suspended worker said: 'The joke was harmless fun and the sort of thing millions of office workers send to each other up and down the country.  I received it and forwarded it to a colleague without thinking about it.  The next thing I knew managers were demanding to look at my computer to see who I'd emailed the joke to. The fact I could now lose my job over this is really scary."  The quip involves the death of three Irishmen. The first leaps with a budgie thinking he's budgie-jumping; the second kills a parrot thinking he's parrot-shooting and the third leaps off with a hen, believing he's hen-gliding.  A BT spokesman said: 'A complaint was made about a joke which could be offensive to some people.  BT takes these matters seriously and will investigate any allegations.  We cannot comment on any investigation that may be taking place internally at the moment. These matters are treated in the strictest confidence.'

John Midgley, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness said: 'I sincerely hope that political correctness does not cost these people their jobs especially in the present economic climate.'  The Leicester Irish Society also defended the employees, claiming BT bosses had lost their sense of humour.  A spokesman said: 'The Irish are famous for their sense of humour but it appears BT have lost theirs. The English and Irish communities have a long history of taking the micky out of each other. 'The Irish probably have just as many, if not more jokes, about the English but they're all meant in good spirits. 'Suspending staff over a little joke is stupid and it would be funny if it wasn't so serious for the people whose jobs are on the line.'

Click here to read the story in the Daily Mail and here to read comedian Frank Carson's take on the incident.

Halifax Courier print piece on PC following outrageous article by one of their journalists
20 February 2009

Colin Drury said in a piece for the Halifax Courier: "But when they're [Prince Harry and Carol Thatcher] speaking on my time – one was working for the BBC even though she wasn't on air, the other was representing the British Army – I have a right to demand they don't offend millions of people. And, if they do, I have a right to demand they're reprimanded. That so many people have defended them is a shame on this country."

Laura Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "This is completely outrageous. It is a shame on this country that so many people have spent so much time attacking them when there are far more significant issues of global importance that could have been discussed.  It is a shame on this country that someone who is prepared to risk their life fighting for the freedom of others around the world is shown so little freedom at home.  It is a shame on this country that anyone could believe that those in the British Army do not deserve our complete respect and eternal gratitude rather than have someone disrespectfully saying that when they are doing this highly dangerous job they are "speaking on my time" when a private video is leaked.  In my opinion, Councillor Mohammed Iqbal, Derek Laud and all the people from "minority" groups who have signed up to our "Political Correctness: Not In My Name" campaign have done far more good for race relations with their comments than the so-called race relations lobby and articles like Colin Drury's have done in years."

Click here to read the full piece now.

Al Jolson musical is performed without authentic 'blacking up'
19 February 2009

The producer of the Al Jolson musical, due to open in Edinburgh next week, has decided that there will be no 'blacking up' of the character saying, "Blacking up is historically correct, but in this day and age we are not out to offend anyone. There is a reference to blacking up in the script, but we didn't feel it was necessary to include it within the show."  Allan Stewart, the actor starring in the production, said "I personally believe it should be in there, but even the slightest sign of negativity could be bad for the show."  

Richard Cook of the Campaign Against Political Correctness said the producers appeared to be trying so hard not to offend that they had sabotaged their own show. He said, "It's a case of the producers being oversensitive. Most people who attend an Al Jolson tribute will know his background but the show they are going to see will be incomplete in terms of its historical accuracy. The actor seems to understand the need for historical accuracy but the producers have overreacted to perceived sensitivities and have been left in a position where they can't go back on it."

Click here to read the story in the Daily Mail or here to read it in the Daily Telegraph.

MP calls again for debate on Political Correctness in Parliament
12 February 2009

Philip Davies, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, has again called for a debate in Parliament on the issue of Political Correctness.  The precise exchange which took place in the House of Commons on Thursday went like this:

Philip Davies: May we have a debate about free speech and political correctness? It is reported in the paper today that a man who worked at a warehouse has been sacked for displaying a Daily Star poster saying “British jobs for British workers”. Is it not ludicrous that anybody could lose their job for displaying such a slogan, or does the Leader of the House believe that anybody who uses that slogan should be sacked?

Harriet Harman: I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman urges me to have a debate about political correctness. The answer to that might be "yes", and I am sure that he will want to congratulate the leader of his party on insisting that a Tory candidate take down a nude pin-up that he was displaying in his office. I am sure that he agrees with his party leader about that.

Kent Police waste money on LGBT initiative 
11 February 2009

Kent Police are hosting a whole series of events to mark Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered History Month, including an essay-writing competition, a dinner dance and a quiz.

Condemning all the events, the Campaign Against Political Correctness said: 'Police can get very obsessed about this sort of thing.  To have even one event to mark the month would be bad enough but to have a whole series is a waste of police time and resources. I am sure the people of Kent would have different priorities if they were asked how the money should be spent.'

Ann Widdecombe MP said: 'I would have thought the police had other things to worry about, like catching burglars. Why don't they get kids to write an essay on combating crime? It strikes me as an extraordinary waste of police resources.'

Click here for the full story in the Daily Mail.

Virgin advert called "sexist"
10 February 2009

A television advert in which airport crowds eye a group of stewardesses has been criticised as sexist.  Some viewers across Britain lodged complaints about the ad, designed to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s 25th anniversary.  But Philip Davies, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said, “Anybody who’s complained about it seems to me to have too much time on their hands. Some people in this country are humourless – it’s completely ridiculous. If people are upset by it they shouldn’t fly with Virgin. But don’t waste the Advertising Standard Agency’s time by asking them to investigate.  We are going to get to a stage where people will never want to do anything in case some humourless soul takes offence.  It’s a very sad reflection on the state of Britain.” 

The Advertising Standards Authority received 29 complaints about the £6million advert. Some said it was “insulting to women”.  Complainers believed using gorgeous stewardesses to encourage male viewers to fly Virgin is sexist.

But a spokeswoman for the ASA said: “We won’t be following these complaints up as we feel the advert has not breached the advertising code.”

A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said: “We think the ASA was right to dismiss these complaints. Our advert has been received brilliantly by viewers across the world and we’ve had lots of messages of support for it on the website.”

MP calls for debate on political correctness
5 February 2009

Sir Patrick Cormack MP called for a debate on political correctness in the House of Commons citing the two recent cases of the well publicised Carol Thatcher incident and also the nurse suspended for offering to pray for one of her patients.  The exchange with Harriet Harman was as follows:

Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): In a week when a devoted community nurse was suspended from her duties for wanting to pray for one of her patients and then the BBC, which is even more misguided than that nurse’s health authority, dismissed an eminent broadcaster for a remark made in the green room, while retaining the odious Jonathan Ross on £6 million a year, is it not time that we had a debate on the utter absurdities of political correctness?

Ms Harman: On the question of the nurse, whose case was reported in the newspapers, the matter is, I presume, a disciplinary issue for her employers. On the BBC, whether or not material is offensive is a question for trustees of the BBC.

Click here to see the exchange on the House of Commons Hansard.

Carol Thatcher loses work at The One Show after saying that a tennis player reminds her of a Robertson's jam golliwog
4 February 2009

Carol Thatcher observed that a tennis player reminded her of the golliwog used on the Robertson's jam jars and she will now no longer receive commissions from The One Show as a result it appears. 

For simply making an observation based on a fact and then following it up with this statement from her spokesman she appears to have been denied future work with the programme - "Carol never intended any racist comment. She made a light aside about this tennis player and his similarity to the golliwog on the jam pot when she was growing up. There’s no way, obviously, that she would condone any racist comment — we would refute that entirely. It would not be in her nature to do anything like that.”

A black caller to the BBC 5 Live programme said, "I am not offended, I am really outraged. People are trying to make black people victimised and I don't feel offended at all.  I am on eBay now buying golliwogs for all my friends.  What is so outrageous is that this dilutes the whole argument - we end up concentrating on absurd ridiculous throw away remarks and not real problems.  When I heard the comments, a certain tennis player popped into my head as being the one she was referring to - does this make me racist?"

Derek Laud, former Big Brother contestant said, "Branding Carol Thatcher a racist is like calling Jesus Christ the Devil. It is simply not true. To use the word golliwog is to describe a doll that wore bright clothes, had a black face and fuzzy hair. That is descriptive – it’s not racist. I am black and my own nickname is Golly. My friends of many years standing use it affectionately and I sometimes use it as my signature. You know perfectly well when someone’s intending it to be derogatory. Everything has to be in context."

The Commission for Racial Equality also said in 2007 that the question of whether golliwogs were considered racist depended on the context in which they were displayed.  It simply said, "Some people might find them offensive, some people might not".

Nelson Mandela also came to the aid of a councillor who had "blacked up" for a fancy dress party the same year saying, "We should try not to read racism into actions which may be completely innocent."

John Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said, "It is quite clear that if someone was shouting abuse at someone else and the word golliwog was mentioned this would be deplorable behaviour - because the shouting and manner would be unacceptable rather than simply the use of the word golliwog.  We have to remember that context is key.  Some people say that the golliwog has been hijacked by racists and therefore it is unacceptable - full stop.  On this basis we would have ditched the Union Flag a long time ago because it too had been hijacked.  Whilst some racists may use golliwogs and Union Jacks, it has to be understood that the vast majority of people do not fall into this category.  However, the constant attack on what these people perceive to be innocent childhood toys or the flag of their country might just force them to start being less tolerant and less understanding in other areas which is the last thing we want to happen as this would harm good race relations in the UK." 

On the history of the golliwog, the following is often quoted from the original book:  "Then all look round, as well they may, To see a horrid sight!, The blackest gnome, Stands there alone, They scatter in their fright."

What people don't quote are the following verses when the other characters have recovered from their initial shock and actually become dear friends of the golliwog and end up saving his life when he falls in the icy water: 

With kindly smile he nearer draws; Begs them to feel no fear. "What is your name?", Cries Sarah Jane; "The 'Golliwogg' my dear."  

Their fears allayed-each takes an arm, While up and down they walk; With sidelong glance, Each tries her chance, And charms him with "small talk".  

While "Golliwogg" with cautious steps, Toward the middle skates; They hear a crack! They cry, "come back, To your devoted mates!"

Too late! alas their call is vain! He swiftly disappears! His kind forethought, Is dearly bought, It melts them unto tears.

To read the whole book and see all the illustrations online just click here.

Campaign Against Political Correctness Parliamentary Spokesman presents "Equality and Diversity (Reform) Bill" to Parliament
21 January 2009

Philip Davies MP, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, used his position on the list of MPs chosen in the Private Members Bill ballot to introduce his "Equality and Diversity (Reform) Bill" to Parliament.  He is supported by David Davis MP, Ann Widdecombe MP, Peter Lilley MP, John Whittingdale MP, David Heathcoat-Amory MP, Greg Knight MP, Graham Brady MP, Ann Winterton MP, Christopher Chope MP and Sir Nicholas Winterton MP and the Bill is to prohibit the use of affirmative and positive action in recruitment and appointment processes; to repeal the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002; and for connected purposes.

Further updates will be provided in due course.

Derek Laud attacks political correctness and discusses racism
18 January 2009

Photo © Derek Laud - DerekLaud.com

In an article in The Independent, Derek Laud gives his views on political correctness and racism making some excellent points.  Some extracts from the article are set out below:

"A racist uses stereotypes to abuse or deride. I do not believe Prince Harry – revealed last week as having referred to a fellow soldier as a "Paki" – is a racist."

"When I was a boy, I'm ashamed to say, we regularly used the word "Paki" pejoratively if Mr Patel in the corner shop would not sell us fags. My own nickname is "Golly", partly because of my collection of gollies, collected from the old Robertson's jam labels."

"Nonetheless, I should be grateful to those who seek to minimise offence. Once, in 1990, when involved with Mrs Thatcher's leadership campaign, I mentioned to the prime minister that I had been "working like a black". She glared at me. "Derek, we work like Trojans, and talk about 'flies in the ointment'," she explained."

"In my view, satire can improve race relations. Getting worked up by trivial examples of "technical" racism like Prince Harry's detracts from the real point. It is too easy to remove visible symbols of racism without altering the submerged reality.  For example, David Cameron has attempted to change the Tories' image by selecting a handful of ethnic minority candidates with little or no history in the party, precious little political nous and distinguished only by their capacity to conform. These are the real "Uncle Toms", preferred by their pigmentation rather than their principles. What could be more of a racist joke than that?"

Click here for his full article in The Independent.

Prison officers given language guides for use in Scottish prisons
19 January 2009

A document called "Plain Talking: What We Say Can Hurt People", published by the Scottish Prison Service and Capability Scotland, has been issued to stamp out “hurtful” language that could “reinforce negative attitudes”.  Warders have been warned they must not refer to inmates as “mental” or call them a “daftie”, a “psycho” or a “nutter”. They have been told that correct term is a “person with mental health issues” or a “person with a learning difficulty”.

Click here for the article in The Sunday Times.

eBay bans sale of "Escape from Colditz" game as swastika is shown on front of the box
16 January 2009

A man trying to sell a collectable 1970s children's board game - Escape from Colditz - on eBay was told that he would not be able to auction the game unless he covered the swastika up as the sign was “hateful and discriminatory” and breached their race rules.  This falls into the "re-writing of history" category of political correctness and again context is key!  

Click here for the story as reported in The Sun.

The Prince Harry affair....
13 January 2009

The statement continued: "Prince Harry used the term 'raghead' to mean Taleban or Iraqi insurgent."

Click here for an excellent piece by Andrew Alexander, here from one by Richard Littlejohn, here for a column on the subject by Allison Pearson and here a piece by Bernard Dineen in the Yorkshire Post - there is not much left to add!

Police's concerns about gipsy site deemed to be racist and are not, therefore, considered by Council
10 January 2009

Police in Bedfordshire joined local residents in objecting to a planning application for a gipsy/traveller site only to be told by officials that

The letter sent on behalf of the police by Chief Superintendent Andy Street reported that over the two-year period to January 2008, officers had visited the three existing gipsy sites a total of 210 times to deal with reports of fights, arson, assaults, stolen vehicles, violent disorder, anti-social behaviour, theft, child abduction and use of weapons. One site was visited 109 times.  He went on to say, "The numbers, and nature, of incidents are not atypical for traveller sites. The likelihood of such sites causing problems for those living in close proximity is highly probable."

The decision by the Council not to allow the police's objections to be heard as they were deemed to be racist meant that councillors considering the planning application were not made aware of the police's deep concerns before making a decision.  

Diversity Awareness courses at hotel cost taxpayer £1,755 per head
6 January 2009

Diversity courses for many civil servants - including

Mark Wallace, Campaign Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'No wonder public services are struggling and Government departments are so inefficient if civil servants' heads are being stuffed with politically-correct gobbledegook.  'It is perverse that whilst people in the private sector lose their jobs and struggle to pay essential bills, public bodies are lavishing such huge amounts on irrelevant diversity training.'

Click here for the full story in the Daily Mail.

School re-named "A Place for Learning" 
3 January 2009

Headmistress, Linda Kingdon, of Watercliffe Meadow School in Sheffield said, "We decided we didn’t want to use the word ‘school’.  One reason was many parents of children here had very negative connotations of school.  Instead we want this to be a place for family learning.  There are no bells or locked doors. We wanted to de-institutionalise the place and bring the school closer to real life.”

Yet again, Equality bodies guilty of discrepancies
4 December 2008

Philip Davies MP, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, uncovered through a Parliamentary Question that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has its own pay gap and yet they are going to be responsible for looking into company pay gaps in the future.  The Commission was forced to admit that it pays men more than women, white employees more than ethnic minority employees and able bodied staff more than disabled staff.  Philip Davies said, "What on earth is the point of a politically correct organisation like that, that is given huge quantities of taxpayers money to go lecturing round the country to organisations about equal pay when they don't even practice what they preach themselves?"

Click here to see the question as it appears in the House of Commons Hansard and here to read the full story in the Daily Mail.

Nativity play "delayed" until the New Year due to Eid
4 December 2008

A Nottingham school wrote to parents telling them that the annual nativity play had been cancelled "due to the Eid celebrations that take place next week and its effect on our performers".  They later said, "The Christmas performance has not been cancelled outright but has been postponed until the New Year."  Parents at the school were obviously dismayed to hear this and could not see how the Christmas play could be performed in the New Year.

Sajad Hussain, 35, of who has two children at the school said: "It's not that complicated; they could have one event on one day and another on another day, they should have both celebrations at the school.  If you do not have both it becomes a racist thing and that's why you have to be careful if an issue is made out of it it could become nasty."  Another Muslim parent, Mia, from a different area said, "We are Muslims but my daughter is going to play a part in the nativity play at her nursery, I can't see what the fuss is all about. We bought a Christmas tree this year and we are going to celebrate both occasions, why do you want to confuse your kids with religious issues?  Let them enjoy the festive season like all the kids in the country. Why do you want them to feel like the odd one out of the crowd?  To be part of the UK society, you need to make an effort to mingle with the society and you can do that without it affecting your beliefs.  UK isn't a Muslim country, end of the story."

Click here for the full story in the Daily Mail.

Council threatens to delay payment to small businesses until they fill in an ethnic monitoring questionnaire
21 November 2008

A letter was sent to businesses by Waltham Forest Council telling them that they risked payment for their work being delayed if they did not complete a form giving the Council information on the ethnic origin and sex of their staff. Once this came to light, Cllr Keith Rayner, the authority's cabinet member for finance, said: "This request for information was, in fact, to help the council ensure we are neither excluding nor failing to support any sections of our community.  However, threatening non-payment is clearly not the way to go about this. I would like to apologise unreservedly for this.."  Laura Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: "This is absolutely outrageous.  Bullying people into conforming to nonsensical, irrelevant form filling - especially in the current economic climate - is completely unacceptable.  Yet again, this just shows how meaningless tick box political correctness wastes both time and money."

Click here for the full story in the Waltham Forest Guardian.

Doormats in Hampshire deemed to be a "health and safety risk"
17 November 2008

Residents with doormats in a block of flats in Gosport have been told to remove the mats or face being taken to court by the local council. However, Tom Mullarkey, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, spoke out against the decision saying, "The application of common sense and balance is much more reasonable than the seeking of mindless increments towards absolute safety." 

Click here to read the full story in the Daily Mail.

Equalities super-body pays men more than women, white staff more than BME staff and able-bodied staff more than disabled staff
13 November 2008

It has been revealed that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has got its own "Pay Gap".  Philip Davies MP, Parliamentary Spokesman for the Campaign Against Political Correctness, forced the Government to admit this was the case by tabling a Parliamentary Question as follows:

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what average salary was paid by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to its (a) male, (b) female, (c) white, (d) black and minority ethnic (e) disabled and (f) non-disabled employees in the last period for which figures are available. [232794]

Maria Eagle: The current average salaries for staff in each group are as follows:

Click here to read the whole question in Hansard.

Philip Davies said, "Given that this organisation is always banging on about the faults of employers, it is astonishing to find that it is paying men more than women.  To lecture everybody else about doing something they can't do themselves is hypocrisy beyond belief."

Laura Midgley, Co-Founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said, "This revelation is so ironic - on this basis having the EHRC in charge of equality is as ridiculous as putting Gordon Ramsay in charge of an anti-swearing campaign.  This constant obsession with equal outcomes - which are neither desirable nor achievable takes away the focus from the really important issue which is equal opportunities."

UPDATE:  Philip Davies raised this issue again in the chamber of the House of Commons during Business Questions and received a bland and unhelpful answer from Harriet Harman as set out below:

Philip Davies: May we have a debate on the Equality and Human Rights Commission? A recent answer to a parliamentary question that I tabled showed that, on average, the commission pays men more than women, white people more than those from ethnic minorities, and non-disabled people more than disabled people. What on earth is the point of a politically correct organisation—it is given huge quantities of taxpayer’s money to give lectures around the country on equal pay —that does not even practise what it preaches?

Ms Harman: The hon. Gentleman shows how important it is to have transparency. We must ensure that all organisations publish information about pay gaps between genders and ethnicities, and about how many disabled people they employ. That is not just important for the EHRC, because we need that transparency in the whole public sector—and in the private sector too.

Click here for official record of the exchange in the House of Commons' Hansard.

"Britishness" could be an offensive term, says Council
12 November 2008

In advice presented to 9,000 staff at Caerphilly Council in South Wales about equality, some tips are offered on communicating with the public.  The term was said to offer a “false sense of unity” and could upset those from Scotland, Wales and Ireland as well as members of ethnic minorities.  However, the document was criticised by Welsh rugby player Gareth Edwards who said, “This is political correctness gone absolutely mad.  I’m very proud to be Welsh and if anybody asks me where I’m from, I’ll say Wales.  But I’m also British and I’ve played for the British Lions and I’m very proud of that as well. I have no issue with being called British.”

Falklands veteran Simon Weston, who was born in Caerphilly, said: “I am proud to call myself a British Welshman.  I just do not know what is going on with Caerphilly Council but guidelines like this are simply ludicrous. Since when was calling someone British offensive? We are British, that is the simple fact of the matter and whatever is done to try to break us up we have survived."

Click here for the full story in the Daily Express.

ITV sports commentator apologies after using common javelin expression
11 November 2008

The Equality and Human Rights Commission said, "'Words could be taken out of context - it's not part of our remit to police language unless it falls under incitement legislation.  We do not have a handbook of things you can and can't say."

Click here for the full story in the Daily Mail.

Shopkeeper receives hate mail for selling golliwog dolls
6 November 2008

Photo: BNPS, Daily Telegraph

Viv Endecott was forced to call police after receiving anonymous hate mail through her door for selling golliwogs in her shop in Dorset.  Viv Endecott has vowed to continue to sell the dolls alongside the Blyton books, teddy bears and bottles of ginger beer saying, "Around here it is accepted that a golliwog is a soft toy associated with Enid Blyton. I genuinely think most people don't