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Tory goes to a fancy-dress party as Mandela...and ends up in racism inquiry
Last updated at 20:22pm on 28.03.07A Tory councillor who hosted a fancy-dress party as Nelson Mandela says he thought he was merely paying tribute to a historic figure.
But Brian Gordon has been accused of "thinly-veiled racism" and is facing demands for his sacking because he blacked his face for the role.
The Commission for Racial Equality has launched an investigation following a complaint by a Liberal Democrat colleague on Barnet Council in North London.
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Made up: Barnet councillor Brian Gordon dresses as Nelson Mandela. He sent the picture to a newspaper
The private party was to celebrate the Jewish festival of Purim. Mr Gordon's outfit consisted of a Dashiki shirt, a necklace of black beads and traditional African hat.
He was so pleased with it that he sent a photograph of himself as Mandela to his local newspaper - causing the row.
In a statement, the councillor, who is in his 50s, claimed he was wellknown for dressing up as world leaders and to miss out the former South African president would in itself be discriminatory.
"I am amazed that one or two people are becoming so worked up over a fancy-dress outfit that was no more than a piece of harmless fun.
"For several years on Purim, a traditional time for dressing up, I have taken on the guise of a range of famous personalities, including President Reagan, Boris Yeltsin, Ariel Sharon and Sir Ian Blair.
"They are people for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration, as I do for Nelson Mandela.
"The last thing I have ever intended at this festive time was to cause offence, and if I did on this occasion then I sincerely apologise.
"However, I am sure that anyone with a modicum of humour will view this rather bizarre matter in its proper perspective." The CRE, which is acting on a complaint from Lib Dem Stieve De Lance, said it was "unacceptable" for elected representatives to behave in a way that might offend.
A spokesman said: "Is it really too much to ask that celebrities and politicians engage their brains before they walk out of the door? Councillors must be aware of the potential impact of their behaviour.
"Good council leadership is essential in managing the differences in our increasingly diverse communities as councils have a duty to promote good race relations." Miss De Lance, who has also reported Mr Gordon to Barnet council's director of corporate governance, is calling for him to be "unceremoniously sacked".
She said: "I was gobsmacked when I saw the picture. How can he think this is funny or acceptable? It is thinly-veiled racism. You cannot make jokes like this."
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chair of Labour's ethnic minority task force, said: "This sort of behaviour is shockingand completely unacceptable."
A source close to Mr Gordon, who has been a councillor in Barnet for the last nine years, said he had fallen foul of the "politically correct lobby" who could not take a joke.
"There's nothing racist about it at all. Brian couldn't do Nelson without blacking up, just as Nelson couldn't do Brian without using white make-up."
Barnet's Tory council leader, Mike Freer, said: "I accept that blacking-up is fraught with difficulties and has all sorts of historical connotations. But this wasn't blacking-up like the Black and White Minstrel shows.
"This is Brian Gordon dressing up as a world leader who happens to be black."
Reader views (11)
This is all part of the same craziness that allows and demands promotion of black issues but not British issues and totally trashes anything that has any remote possibility of relating to a dare I say it 'white' issue.
I believe the intent was honorable and should be taken in context with previous characters he has portrayed.
- Karen, Northampton
Hilarious news article, pure Day Today.
- Stephen, Bury
If a black man dressed up as a famous Jewish person, wearing a kippah, a flake beard and traditional Jewish clothing for a LAUGH and a ‘BIT OF FUN’, don’t you think some Jewish people may feel offended? Especially if was supposed to be funny?
Anyway, what’s so funny about dressing up as Mandela? Perhaps Cllr Gordon can explain the joke to us.
I must say, I’m sure Cllr Gordon didn’t mean any offence but how daft can one get! What a dim-wit, especially for sending the picture to the paper! He asked for all this!
- Ms. Richardson, Barnet
So when I dresed up as Michael Jackson for a fancy dress competition I was being racist was I? What a load of nonsense. Why should he be sacked? Why is it shocking or unacceptable? Why can't white people dress up as black people they respect for fancy dress without being condemned?
As he has already dresssed up as President Reagan, Boris Yeltsin, Ariel Sharon and Sir Ian Blair, no doubt those complaining would have complained had he not dressed up as a black leader, stating that he only respected white world leaders...
- Martin, Watford
So am I to presume correctly that Rory Bremner will be castigated for "blacking up" as Trevor MacDonald? What a load of PC nonsense.
- James, London, UK
This PC brigade are getting on my nerves. These days it seems that if a party doesn't have any policies worth talking about it plays the PC card and usually it's the white liberal do-gooders who keep popping up with a new ridiculous complaint. Shame on you Lib Dems, think of some decent policies or bring back your drunk leader and he will provide us with real entertainment.
- Lila, Kent
Is the Barnet Liberal Democrat guy intending to stand for the raving loony party at the next election he sure would get my vote - though perhaps such a stance would offend loonies.
- Greg, Hammersmith
Can any Conservative be so naive that they don't realise their political opponents and others are just waiting for them to fall into these old traps in order that they can play the race card?
- Rick, London, England
I assume that in future all fancy dress will have to be banned?
- Patrick, London
Pretty much what you'd expect from a politician, so far removed from any sort of reality that they manage to offend.
- Trevor Roll, London
They haven't got a clue have they? No wonder they can't get rid of Bliar and his mob. A team of prudently shaved and dressed-up chimps would be a better bet to run the country.
- Squiz, Islington
