24 groups join town's fight to stop the BNP

Schools, churches and companies are flocking to sign up to an anti-racism initiative launched by a Leeds MP

Morley and Rothwell Labour MP Colin Challen launched the "Morley Together" campaign after a British National Party candidate in Morley South was elected to Leeds City Council last year – the first BNP councillor in the city. Mr Challen said he had launched the campaign because he did not want to see the town become a "battleground of hatred".

Last year, church leaders and others protested after anti-racism leafleters were physically attacked in the area.

Within days of the launch of the "Morley Together" campaign, seven local companies and other organisations had signed up and were presented with certificates. Now the list has grown to 24.

Mr Challen said: "I am delighted with the response so far. Local schools have responded magnificently, and this is in no small part due to the launch of the Stephen Lawrence Project locally. I have already attended a project event and will be going to more shortly. There is no doubt that there is a shared responsibility to tackle the problems racism and xenophobia cause and to eradicate the damaging image of negativity which could attach itself to Morley if people think these are our values. They very clearly are not."

Signatories to the initiative commit themselves to these principles:

Morley Together demonstrates that local people reject the politics of hate and xenophobia. We declare that we are committed to promoting understanding and tolerance between people regardless of their ethnic and religious background or where they are from.

Principles

We believe that Morley has a long history of welcoming a broad spectrum of people, and that only by being outward-looking can we ensure that the town thrives. The renewal of Morley depends on the encouragement of co-operation and understanding.

We therefore pledge that we will actively encourage all those whom we meet to promote these values and reject racism outright.

Groups signing the pledge so far are: Morley Town Council, Bruntcliffe School, Fountain Primary School, Woodkirk High School, St Francis Catholic Primary School, Churwell Primary School, Hilltop Primary School, Morley Church of the Nazarene, Greens Decorating, Victoria Business Systems, LP Supplies Ltd, Ravenheat Manufacturing Ltd, Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, Frank W Dobby and Co Chartered Accountants, Asquith Primary School, Vivian House Residential Home, Blackgates Primary School, Seven Hills Primary School, National Flexible Ltd, Kelly Williams Chartered Accountants, Gildersome Primary School, Morley High School, The Fountain Medical Centre, and Westerton Primary School.

Yorkshire Evening Post