Urgent requests that the House of Commons discuss proposed legislation making dissemination of racist and hatemongering materials a criminal offense were advanced in Parliament today by several members of the Labor Party.
Fenner Brockway, who introduced the bill, requested that Ian Macleod, leader of the House, reconsider his previous decision against discussing the bill. Mr. Brock-way pointed out that such a debate has become timely “in view of recent events and expressions of public opinion.” He was referring to the open-air meetings held by Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union Movement which provoked disturbances.
Mr. Brockway insisted that “in view of racist discrimination and racial incitement against various communities in Britain, more serious than slander or libel, legislation must make such activities a criminal offense.” He was supported by several other Laborites, including Sidney Silverman. The latter told the House: “The agitation which is being worked up is becoming a really urgent matter and daily more dangerous.”
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