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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Johnson aide quits over race row | Johnson aide quits over race row |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| An aide to London Mayor Boris Johnson has resigned after making a comment to a reporter which sparked a race row. | An aide to London Mayor Boris Johnson has resigned after making a comment to a reporter which sparked a race row. |
| Responding to a claim that some black people might leave the UK if Mr Johnson became mayor, James McGrath said: "Let them go if they don't like it here." | Responding to a claim that some black people might leave the UK if Mr Johnson became mayor, James McGrath said: "Let them go if they don't like it here." |
| Mr McGrath said his remark to a journalist from the-latest.com website had been taken out of context. | Mr McGrath said his remark to a journalist from the-latest.com website had been taken out of context. |
| Mr Johnson said he knew Mr McGrath was "not a racist", but the remarks made it "impossible" for him to keep his job. | Mr Johnson said he knew Mr McGrath was "not a racist", but the remarks made it "impossible" for him to keep his job. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron, who worked with Mr McGrath before the 2005 election, backed Mr Johnson's action. | |
| He said Mr McGrath was not a racist and was a "good person" but his comments were a "lapse of judgement" - and in politics one had to "face the consequences". | |
| 'Mass exodus' | 'Mass exodus' |
| Mr McGrath, a 34-year-old Australian who has worked for the Conservative Party for seven years, was appointed director of political strategy at City Hall after Mr Johnson became mayor last month. | |
| Reporter Marc Wadsworth said that Mr McGrath made the comments to him when he pointed out a critical piece in a newspaper during Mr Johnson's election campaign. | Reporter Marc Wadsworth said that Mr McGrath made the comments to him when he pointed out a critical piece in a newspaper during Mr Johnson's election campaign. |
| His remarks made it impossible for him to continue Boris Johnson | His remarks made it impossible for him to continue Boris Johnson |
| In his online article he writes: "I pointed out to him a critical comment of Voice columnist Darcus Howe that the election of 'Boris Johnson, a right-wing Conservative, might just trigger off a mass exodus of older Caribbean migrants back to our homelands'. | In his online article he writes: "I pointed out to him a critical comment of Voice columnist Darcus Howe that the election of 'Boris Johnson, a right-wing Conservative, might just trigger off a mass exodus of older Caribbean migrants back to our homelands'. |
| "He retorted: 'Well, let them go if they don't like it here.' McGrath dismissed Mr Howe as 'shrill'." | "He retorted: 'Well, let them go if they don't like it here.' McGrath dismissed Mr Howe as 'shrill'." |
| Mr McGrath then wrote a comment on the website in reply: "The columnist suggested that older people from the Caribbean might migrate back to their homelands if Boris Johnson became Mayor. | |
| "I felt that this suggestion was ridiculous and intended as a slur and responded by saying with words to effect of 'let people go if they don't like it here'. | "I felt that this suggestion was ridiculous and intended as a slur and responded by saying with words to effect of 'let people go if they don't like it here'. |
| "To imply that I meant that all black people who didn't support Boris Johnson should leave the country is utterly absurd and incorrect. And I would ask please that this insinuation is immediately retracted." | "To imply that I meant that all black people who didn't support Boris Johnson should leave the country is utterly absurd and incorrect. And I would ask please that this insinuation is immediately retracted." |
| 'Hostile suggestion' | 'Hostile suggestion' |
| In a statement Boris Johnson said: "It is with great regret this evening that I have accepted the resignation of my political adviser, James McGrath. | In a statement Boris Johnson said: "It is with great regret this evening that I have accepted the resignation of my political adviser, James McGrath. |
| "Unfortunately, his remarks in a conversation with an internet journalist, published this weekend, made it impossible for him to continue in that role. | "Unfortunately, his remarks in a conversation with an internet journalist, published this weekend, made it impossible for him to continue in that role. |
| "James is not a racist. I know that. But his response to a silly and hostile suggestion put to him by Marc Wadsworth, allowed doubts to be raised about that commitment. | "James is not a racist. I know that. But his response to a silly and hostile suggestion put to him by Marc Wadsworth, allowed doubts to be raised about that commitment. |
| "I wish James well in the future, thank him for his contribution and urge everyone not to misrepresent his view or misinterpret his intentions any further." | "I wish James well in the future, thank him for his contribution and urge everyone not to misrepresent his view or misinterpret his intentions any further." |