General Election, October 1974 (Manchester)

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 24 June 1976.

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Photo of Mr Andrew Bennett Mr Andrew Bennett , Stockport North 12:00, 24 June 1976

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester on the violence in connection with the October 1974 General Election in Manchester, Blackley, the distribution of leaflets without an imprint, contrary to the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1949, and with regard to the disruption by the National Front of the meeting at UMIST held by the National Council for Civil Liberties.

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

I have received reports from the chief constable on these incidents, on which it appears to me that the police took appropriate action.

Photo of Mr Andrew Bennett Mr Andrew Bennett , Stockport North

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Greater Manchester area there are very strong feelings that the forces of intolerance have been treated very favourably by the law enforcement bodies? What steps does my right hon. Friend propose to take to allay those feelings?

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

If my hon. Friend and others say that there is a feeling, I must recognise that it exists. But I cannot find, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who was called in at all relevant stages, did not find, any slackness on the part of the police. Clearly it must be for the Director to decide whether action is taken in particular instances. After the 1974 General Election campaigns, prosecutions were undertaken. One offender was found guilty and fined, and two persons were brought before the courts but were found not guilty. I could not, and would not, seek to control what the courts say when they are asked to give a verdict.

Photo of Mrs Renée Short Mrs Renée Short , Wolverhampton North East

There is widespread concern all over the country at the activities of the National Front. Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people now feel that whenever the National Front appears in public, however much it claims to be law-abiding and non-violent, laws are broken and violence occurs, and that, therefore, the National Front's campaigns and demonstrations should be banned? Will he seriously consider that? It has been suggested to me by certain organisations, and I therefore hope he will tell us that he will seriously consider such action in the interests of racial harmony and peace.

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

I wish very much to promote the interests of racial harmony and peace and to preserve those of free speech and civil liberties. I detest and deplore the doctrines of the National Front. If it or any other organisation operates outside the law, it should be subject to the full rigour of the law. However, it is for those who have to operate the law—I am not a prosecuting authority, still less a judicial authority—to decide how the law should be applied in certain circumstances.

In my experience, the technique of the National Front is to operate close to the borders of the law in a provocative way and to hope that those it has provoked will themselves indulge in violence and break the law. I believe that the National Front would be a much less effective organisation if those who are against it would proclaim peacefully, by speech, their detestations of its views and not fall into the trap of behaving on the ground just as the National Front would like.

Photo of Mrs Renée Short Mrs Renée Short , Wolverhampton North East

"One down, one million to go."

Photo of Mr John Stokes Mr John Stokes , Halesowen and Stourbridge

Is the Home Secretary aware that there is widespread concern and anxiety about the so-called National Council for Civil Liberties, which does not appear to have much concern for the liberty of English people but is rather a semi-revolutionary organisation?

Photo of Mr Roy Jenkins Mr Roy Jenkins , Birmingham Stechford

The National Council for Civil Liberties often sends me its views. I consider them carefully and treat them with the respect I think they deserve. Everyone is entitled to express his view, even the hon. Member for Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes), who does so quite frequently.