Doncaster Mayor's PC campaign
MAYOR Peter Davies has brought in "experts" to root out political correctness in Doncaster Council - targeting groups aimed at ethnic minorities and women.
Mr Davies has drafted in Laura and John Midgley, from the Campaign Against Political Correctness, to run a fine toothcomb through the council and see what they believe can be ditched.
But the scheme has caused concerns among councillors who fear the issue should be debated with councillors rather than a campaign group and fear some minorities could lose a voice.
Among the groups they have already identified as too politically correct are an ethnic minorities welfare rights service, and a racial multi agency partnership.
Mr Davies said he had brought them in for advice on rooting out political correctness.
He said he had not yet decided what specific actions to take, but the couple, who will not be paid for their advice would be visiting Doncaster on more occasions in the future.
He said: "They are experts on the subject, and political correctness is a complete drain on public expenditure. It is completely unnecessary, and it is universally unpopular."
Mr Midgley said it was the first time the organisation had been asked by an authority to come and give advice, although they had been asked for advice from concerned councillors in the past.
He said: "What we've got in Mr Davies is a mayor who has been elected on a promise to reduce and, where possible, eliminate political correctness in Doncaster. The people of Doncaster are crying out for this just as people are throughout the country.
"We've got plenty of examples where expensive political correctness takes place in Doncaster, like the Ethnic Minority Welfare Rights Service. At the end of the day, people of all backgrounds may have an entitlement to things like council tax benefit or housing and there is no need to have one separate unit for one group in particular."
He has also raised the borough's Racial Multiagency Partnership as an example of political correctness that they feel could be removed.
The council describes the partnership as a partnership of core agencies, which provide a coordinated response to racist incidents. It was formed in January 2005 in response to Home Office guidance.
Mr Midgley says people should call the police rather than go to a separate agency.
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