Hammersmith councillor apologises after accusing immigrants of littering

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Councillor Ivimy left red faced over email to housing staff

The Hammersmith and Fulham cabinet member for housing has apologised for her "ill-advised comments" after she accused immigrants of causing a litter problem.

In an e-mail to housing officers, Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative councillor Lucy Ivimy said rubbish thrown from Woodford Court in Shepherd's Bush must stop.

Following a residents' meeting, she wrote the following email: "I think we need to a) sort out some regular cleaning up of the garden and b) conduct an educational exercise to tell people not to throw stuff out of the window - particularly foreign-born residents.

"I know that in India throwing rubbish out of a window and total disregard for the cleanliness of a public area is normal behaviour and I dare say a number would change behaviour if firmly told that in London this is not acceptable

behaviour"

The email, however, drew widespread criticism from opposition councillors and residents on the estate.

Ms Ivimy has "unreservedly" apologised and said her mail was

misinterpreted.

 

In a statement, Ms Ivimy said: "I am aware that some ill-advised comments of mine in a private email have been interpreted as something that I never meant and have given offence, for which I unreservedly apologise.

"I should stress that I have no idea who are the specific culprits, or even if they are estate residents. I never meant to imply that this sort of careless behaviour belongs specifically to any one particular group."

Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush Labour MP Andy Slaughter has written a letter to David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, calling on Councillor Ivimy to be suspended from the Conservative Party.

He said: “The comments made by Councillor Ivimy are offensive and completely unacceptable from anyone holding a position in public life.  In this case they are admitted by a senior councillor who has within the past month taken responsibility for housing in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, someone who should be showing a duty of care to tenants and residents in one of the most racially diverse boroughs in the country.”

11 June 2008