Brian Iddon

In the booklet, Celebrating Diversity, an instruction manual prepared for the students of Bolton Sixth Form College in January 2002, Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South East from from the time New Labour assumed power until its demise at the 2010 election, says this:

"I am pleased to support the publication of this information which informs all staff and students of Bolton Sixth Form College on the area of cultural awareness. I have represented substantial numbers of Bolton’s minority communities since 1977, when I was first elected to Bolton Council, and do so now as one of the town’s MP’s…

Over many decades, the citizens of Bolton have welcomed people from all around the world; from Eire, Ukraine, Poland, the Caribbean, China, the African nations and, more recently, from South Asia- Bangladesh, India, Kashmir and Pakistan. Each new influx of immigrants has brought to Bolton the diversity of culture that we enjoy today. All have contributed to the economy of our town in different ways…

Ignorance is what causes most tension between communities, as we have seen in our neighbouring towns, and the best way to eliminate it is through education."

Iddon isn't talking about the ignorance of the outsiders flooding into Bolton, my God no, he's far too PC to criticise anyone from the Black or Asian communities. No, Bolton South-East's finest is talking about the recalcitrant Brit who doesn't fancy hordes of people, not the least bit like him, flooding into his neighbourhood and making him feel like a stranger in his native land.

According to Celebrating Diversity, the total population of Bolton in the 1991 census was as follows:

Ethnicity Population % of population White and other: 237,196 91.7
Indian: 13,356 5.2
Pakistani:4,2401.6
Black: 1,5460.6
Chinese: 439 0.2
Bangladeshi: 216 0.1
Other groups: 1,591 0.6
Total: 258,584

In the academic year 2000-01, the ethnic background of the students of Bolton Sixth Form College was as follows:

Bangladeshi - 1% - 10 times their representation in the census.
Black - 1% - 1.66 times their representation in the census.
Chinese - 1.2% - 6 times their representation in the census.
Indian - 29.9% - 5.75 times their representation in the census.
Pakistani - 15.8% - 9.9 times their representation in the census.
White - 45.1% - Less than half what it was in 1991.

According to the religious affiliations on the enrolment form, 42% of the students for the academic year 2001-2002 at Bolton Sixth Form College stated that Islam was their preferred religion.

In 1991 we can reasonably assume that the 1. 6% of Pakistani origin and 0.1% of Bangladeshi origin in Bolton would state that Islam was their preferred religion. We may assume as many as 0.3% of the 1.0% black people might have stated that Islam was their preferred religion. We may assume that, of all the rest, very few would have stated that Islam was their preferred religion. For the sake of argument, let's say that 0.2% might have stated that Islam was their preferred religion.

Thus, in 1991, the percentage of those in Bolton who might have said that Islam was their preferred religion could have been as high as 2.2%. And yet, just ten years later, 42% of those attending Bolton Sixth Form College stated that Islam was their preferred religion! In just ten years almost twenty times more Muslims now attend Bolton Sixth Form College as would have done so in 1991.

I say that the politicians who have overseen this stunning development in Bolton did not have the best interests of the indigenous people of the town at heart. I believe that any politician who could describe such an influx of people with a vastly dissimilar culture into the existing population as a positive thing is, at best, politically correct at a level way beyond everyday New Labour spin, and, at worst, a traitor to his tribe.

In the foreword to Celebrating Diversity, Brian Iddon says:

"Over many decades, the citizens of Bolton have welcomed people from all around the world; from Eire, Ukraine, Poland, the Caribbean, China, the African nations and, more recently, from South Asia- Bangladesh, India, Kashmir and Pakistan."

The actual effects of immigration into this country have always been, as the ordinary citizen knows, enormous pressure upon existing infrastructure; (particularly hopsitals and schools) competition for jobs and housing that wasn’t there before; an increase in crime and ethnic tension; new laws on the statute books to protect the immigrant and criminalise the indigenous and a governmental sensitivity to the requirements and aspirations of the immigrant that was never shown to the original population.

Iddon adds:

"Each new influx of immigrants has brought to Bolton the diversity of culture that we enjoy today."

Do the original inhabitants of Bolton, those whose ancestors are buried here, 'enjoy' the way things are now? Or would they prefer things to return to the way things were, I wonder?

Iddon continues:

"Ignorance is what causes most tension between communities, as we have seen in our neighbouring towns, and the best way to eliminate it is through education."

I'd be surprised if Iddon ever had any sympathy for the disenfranchised white students of Bolton who responded in an 'ignorant' way to the 'tension between communities' when there was no longer any room for them at their local college.

The Principal of Bolton Sixth Form College, a Mr. R. Whittle, says this in Celebrating Diversity:

"The College recognises that students will need help and information in working to achieve a situation where ethnic diversity is celebrated…Since the 1991 Census it has become apparent that Hindu families are leaving Bolton and that the number of people of Pakistani origin living in the town has increased. In total, Bolton has a greater ethnic minority population than Greater Manchester.

Bolton Sixth Form College is proud of the fact that it is a multi-racial and multi-cultural college… All students indicate any religious affiliations on their enrolment form. Results are as follows for academic year 2001-2002.

Religion % of students:

Islam 42%
Christianity 30%
No religious affiliation 16%
Hindu 8%
Don’t want to say 1%
Judaism 1%
Sikh 1%
Unknown 1%…

With its multicultural student population the college is a very multilingual environment. Many of the students speak a language other than English. College members speak many different languages and dialects…

There are aspects of the behaviour of Asian and African Caribbean youths that may be misrepresented or misunderstood. There has been misunderstanding as to why young Asian or African Caribbean males tend to hang around or walk in groups. The general myth is that they are up to no good, 'there's going to be a fight', etc. In fact this represents unity and security, and it is a social norm.

Another form of body contact which also emphasises the notion of brotherhood is the shaking of hands or touching of clinched fists…

In the Caribbean it is customary for most mothers to have exclusive responsibility for bringing up children, normally helped by older female relatives. This system is based primarily around the matriarchal family structure. In the majority of families the role of the male was somewhat diminished as the mother and her female relatives took on the responsibilities that are traditionally seen in European culture. This customary practice of the family in the Caribbean evolved from the economic necessity for males to search for work abroad. Now it is actually the British-born generation, rather than the migrants themselves, who are increasingly adopting the custom of mother and child living separately from the child's father.

One of the features of life in the Caribbean community is rate of marriage. However, of those who have married, a number have divorced or are separated. The low rate of partnerships and high rate of single parenthood means that a high number of children born to Caribbean parents only live with one parent, normally their mother. In British society this has economic and social consequences.

One of the most striking aspects of the Caribbean family structure in the millennium is the large number of men who live without a partner, or whose partner is white. Whilst most people seem to be accepting of these relationships, there are reservations among some members of the black community about the consequences of this growing trend."

Thus does today’s British headmaster excuses the grotesque irresponsibility of the Caribbean male who shirks his duty to his wife, children, and society at large.

Whittle continues:

"The perceived structure of a white, British family could be seen as based on the 1950s middle class stereotype of father, mother, two kids (preferable one male, one female). The actual statistics worked out at 2.4 children, a term that has stuck to identify the average family.

The structure was patriarchal, Dad being the breadwinner, Mum staying at home to ‘bring up the kids.’ The sign of a successful family was that the children would become independent and move out of the family home before finding their own partners for marriage and settling down to start the processes all over again. Now, with three out of five marriages ending in divorce and 31% of children being born outside of legal marriages, the 'traditional' pattern of white British families is becoming less of a norm. Step parenting, or at least one adult carer of a child not being a blood relative, is becoming more common.

So while aspects of the 1950's stereotype still exist we may need to question some long held assumptions e.g. a young person will have the same surname as his/her parents; a person called ‘mum’ or ‘dad’ is a blood relative or has parental authority; single parenthood is a result of a divorce or a failed relationship (it may be an active choice); children living in the same household are related by blood; single parenting or step-parenting is a ‘second best’ situation to having two ‘blood’ parents caring for a child; some young people now have two parents of who are of the same sex."

Well, if the original inhabitants of Bolton look forward to having their children taught by a school principal such as Whittle, well, I’m minded to agree with the statement that a second-generation Irish friend of mine once came out with at 1.00 o’clock in the morning, after seven pints of lager:

"The English no longer exist", he said.

If your grandma or your granddad are still alive, have them read the above and then ask them what they think of Iddon and Whittle. If they are no longer with us, try and imagine what they might have thought.

If you truly believe that the ideas and attitudes of the college headmaster and the local MP are more worthy than those of your immediate ancestors, answer this question:

"Are you a better person than your grandparents?"

Brian Iddon, New Labour MP for Bolton South East, voted to decriminalise cannabis usage and possession and signed every Early Day Motion since New Labour came to power advocating the drug’s decriminalisation.

He also voted for a Bill which sought to remove all the restrictions on 'nationality which apply to persons employed or holding office in any civil capacity under the Crown.' In effect, he voted to further disadvantage the native born Briton by making a great many more good jobs available to the foreigner within this country, which were once the exclusive preserve of the indigenous population.

He signed an EDM criticising the proposed deportation of asylum-seeker, Edneth Gotora.

He also signed both EDMs proposing that the vacant fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square should be occupied by a statue of Nelson Mandela. However, he did not sign an EDM that proposed that a statue recognising the service and sacrifice of British seafarers in defence of the United Kingdom be erected upon the empty plinth. Nor did he sign an EDM which called upon 'the Mayor of London’s Advisory Group to recommend the erection of a statue to the manual working class on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square as a fitting recognition of their great contribution to this country.'

Iddon also signed an EDM which expressed outrage at the deaths of Damilola Taylor and Abdi Hamza. This EDM did not bother to point out that both Damilola and Abdi were murdered by gangs of feral, black teenagers.

Iddon signed another EDM which condemned Feltham Young Offenders Institution as 'institutionally racist,' and sympathising with the family of Zahid Mubarek who was killed by a white 'racist.'

He also signed an EDM mentioning Stephen Lawrence and voted for criminal behaviour to be punished with more severity if that criminal behaviour is ‘racially’ or ‘religiously’ aggravated.

However, he did not mention his constituent, Craig Wolfenden, in the House of Commons. Nor did he sign an EDM commemorating him. Craig was killed by Alkash Patel outside his home. Nor did Iddon mention the death of Bolton resident, 9-year-old Ellese Gore, who was knocked down and killed by hit-and-run-driver, Mouishen Ismal Ahmed. Nor did Iddon introduce or sign an EDM commemorating either of them.

Interestingly, Iddon did sign two EDMs which mentioned the deaths of Amy Houston and Scott Young, two white, British children, and he should be commended for this. However, the EDM mentioning Amy didn't inform the reader that the hit-and-run driver who killed 12-year-old Amy was a Kurdish asylum-seeker. Nor did it say that Aso Mohammed Ibrahim had no insurance, licence or test certificate, was disqualified from driving and was out on bail for previous driving offences. Nor did it say Ibrahim was jailed for just four months for killing Amy.

Yannick Etutu was cruising through Romford with Joseph Ogwang and driver, Roland Monie. They were looking for someone to pick on and 14-year-old Scott Young and his friends seemed like easy meat. Etutu and Ogwang jumped out and ran towards them. Etutu, who already had convictions for robbery, began hassling Scott and his friend for money and, when none was forthcoming, punched him full in the face. Scott stumbled into the road and was hit by two oncoming vehicles. He suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead a little while later.

Etutu was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for just three years. Ogwang was cleared and Monie was never charged. All were black.

The EDM Iddon signed never mentioned the ethincity of Scott's attackers.

As fare as I'm aware, no Early Day Motion has ever been introduced into parliament which informed the reader that a first or second-generation immigrant had been responsible for the death of an indigenous, British person.