UK News 06-11-2001 Tories Refuse To Sign Anti-Racist Pledge who: Iain Duncan Smith what: Refuses to sign Islamic Society of Britain anti-racism pledge where: LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith yesterday snubbed a campaign aimed at preventing racism against British Muslims," reports political correspondent Bob Roberts in The Mirror. "The right-winger refused to sign a pledge card appealing for tolerance and condemning attacks on people and places of worship fuelled by religious bigotry." However, says The Guardian`s Patrick Wintour, "the shadow home secretary, Oliver Letwin, did attend the Westminster launch of the pledge - designed to combat racial tensions following the September 11 attacks - and delivered a statement of support from the Tory leader, Iain Duncan Smith." Furthermore, The Sun notes that Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbi also refused to sign the Islamic Society of Britain pledge on the advice that the organisation does not represent the majority of Muslim opinion. David Wooding reports that Mr Duncan Smith`s own pledge "went even further" than the one signed by fellow party leaders Tony Blair and Charles Kennedy. "I will always be intolerant of those who are intolerant of others," said Mr Duncan Smith`s statement. "There is a small minority seeking to exploit these difficult times, to sow misapprehension about faithbased communities and mistrust. We repudiate these efforts." [... more]

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