Liberal Democrat MP accuses Blair spokesman of racism in PC row

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A Liberal Democrat MP was at the centre of a political correctness row after he accused a senior Downing Street official of racism for using the term "black economy".

Bob Russell was branded a "sanctimonious twit" for launching the bizarre attack on Tony Blair's official spokesman Tom Kelly.

The Colchester MP claimed he was 'shocked' that Mr Kelly had used the term - which is commonly used to describe Britain's illegal economy - during a briefing with political journalists.

Furious Mr Russell said that Mr Blair's official spokesman should have instead used the phrase 'grey economy' or 'shadow economy'.

He said: "The term 'black economy' has racial overtones. Downing Street is thus politically incorrect to use this term.

"I am shocked that Downing Street uses the reference 'black economy' - this term was dropped years ago, certainly by state organisations like Customs and Excise, to the more sensitively acceptable term 'grey economy' or 'shadow economy'."

But Mr Russell's comments appeared to have backfired yesterday after opposition MPs pointed out that the term had been regularly used by many of his own colleagues.

Last month, a motion at the Liberal Democrat's annual conference called for delegates to campaign against the 'black economy'.

The party's Trade and Industry spokesman Ed Davey also uses the term on his personal website, while another senior Liberal Democrat MP Paul Holmes has previously campaigned against economic moves which "drive the most needy into the black economy."

Other Liberal Democrats who have used the term include John Barrett MP, Chris Davies MEP and Liz Lynne MEP.

The Oxford English Dictionary says the term 'black economy' was originally used to describe the working black population in the US.

But it is now widely used by financial experts and politicians to describe people who avoid the taxman by working illegally - particularly in areas such as drugs, prostitution and illegal labour.

The 'black economy' or 'black market' - as it also often referred as - is estimated to be worth up to 10 per cent of GDP in Britain.

Conservative MP Mike Penning said: "This is a classic own goal by a sanctimonious twit."

Conservative vice-chairman Grant Shapps added: "This is typical Lib Dem hypocrisy. If Bob Russell is genuinely concerned about the term 'black economy', he should turn his fire on his fellow Lib Dem MPs.

"He has made a laughing stock of himself." Downing Street refused to comment.

But one senior Whitehall source said: "This is utterly absurd."

 

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