Labour MP attacks young Asian gangs

A race row broke out today after a Labour MP accused young Asians of drug dealing and terrorising communities.

Ann Cryer, the MP for Keighley, in West Yorkshire, said drug dealing was destroying Asian communities and race relations with whites. But her comments were branded "dangerous and irresponsible" by one Asian leader, who said she should consider resigning.

Mrs Cryer's constituency is a few miles from Bradford, which was ravaged by race riots last summer.

She cited drug links between Pakistan and Asians living in Britain as one of factors feeding crime.

"In a period of six months there have been four killings of young Asian men, by young Asian men," she said. "It is all drug- and gang-related."

She said young Asians did not have "professionals" to look up to because of "Asian flight" – leaving the neighbourhood once they become successful. Instead, Asian youngsters in saw drug dealers in big cars and smart suits as role models.

Shahid Malik, a member of Labour's National Executive Committee and a former member of the Commission for Racial Equality, said Mrs Cryer's comments were "irresponsible and profoundly counter-productive".

He said: "Her comments are extremely dangerous stereotyping of race and are the hallmark of Ann Cryer.

"It is a disgrace that in Keighley, which has a population with an 18 per cent ethnic minority, there is not one ethnic minority councillor. She has failed the ethnic minority community in Keighley in terms of getting some kind of political leadership."

However, Mrs Cryer was supported by Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain.

He said poverty and a lack of education were the core issues, but Mrs Cryer was right to speak out because Muslim leaders were out of touch.