CROYDON COMMENTARY: The sacking of Callton Young from his position as a deputy cabinet member at Croydon Council, according to LEE JASPER, is an example of how black councillors are intimidated from raising the issue of racism

Callton Young, right, out canvassing with Tottenham MP David Lammy

This is how black Labour councillors in London are bullied and intimidated from raising issues of racism. Meet Councillor Callton Young, who wrote a report about the Metropolitan Police closing down black clubs in Croydon and banning reggae and bashment music – the “bashment ban”.

After writing his report accusing the Met of racially targeting black clubs in Croydon, the report has been withheld for months, and now he has been sacked from his position by the council leader, Tony Newman.

The number of black local councillors nationally and within the Labour Party has halved in the last 20 years, dropping from a high point of in late 1990s of 3.9 per cent to 1.2 per cent today. The number of Asian councillors, meanwhile, has increased dramatically.

In Croydon’s 39-strong Labour group, there are six Asian councillors and six black councillors.

If we do not support brave councillors like Callton, we can hardly complain that they stay silent when confronted by racism. We must support him now.

Let’s be clear: Callton voted to defer a decision pending legal advice, which should not be seen as a hostile political act. I would also add that the other councillor to be sacked, Andrew Pelling, whom I’ve known for some years, is an entirely ethical politician with great integrity.

• Lee Jasper is a former adviser to the Mayor of London and has stood as a parliamentary candidate in Croydon in the past

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