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Racism surfaces in race-up to UK polls

Paran Balakrishnan in London

British Foreign Minister Robin Cook has accused the opposition Conservatives of stirring up racism, in a hard-hitting speech that could bring 'the race card' to the forefront of British politics.

Cook said the Conservatives, who have issued a series of race-related statements in recent weeks, were "responsible for exploiting fear and encouraging prejudice".

The minister said the Conservatives were trying to whip up racial hatred and had failed to "embrace the multi-cultural society that Britain has become".

Cook's attack comes a week after the Conservatives said that foreign doctors were endangering British patients because of poor English language skills. Conservative Party shadow health spokesman Liam Fox had said last week that foreign doctors should face tougher language tests.

Britain's ruling Labour Party believes that the Conservatives will attempt to 'play the race card' in general elections expected next year.

Earlier in the summer, opposition leader William Hague also attempted to turn up the heat against the government, saying that Britain was threatened by a "flood of asylum-seekers".

A leaked document addressed to Hague has suggested that immigration issues could be vote-winners for the Conservatives. The memo says that immigration had helped the Conservatives during the general elections in 1992 and the European election in 1994.

The Conservatives said that Cook's statement was a "contemptible smear".

The aggressive Conservative stance on race is especially worrying for the Labour Party as the government is announcing a major initiative on loosening immigration restrictions on highly qualified professionals in areas like high technology.

There is a consensus in British government circles that foreign professionals have to be attracted to the country because of manpower shortages. In a lead editorial on Monday The Times, London said: "The so-called "system" of immigration that Britain is stuck with serves to deprive our industry of essential talent."

However, the government fears that it could be attacked by the Conservatives for loosening immigration controls.

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