22/04/2013

Tory Councillor Resigns Over Ethnic School Children Remarks

A Conservative Party councillor, who said Pakistani children would fail to "rise to the top", has reigned from the party.

John Cherry made his comments to the Mail on Sunday, adding that some nationalities were "uncertain" when it came to hard work.

He was talking in reference to a plan by the south London-based Durand Academy to open a boarding school in the village of Stedham, which he represented until his resignation.

In resigning, Mr Cherry, 73, who sits on Chichester District Council, said the comments were "extremely foolish".

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, he said: "Ninety-seven per cent of pupils will be black or Asian. It depends what type of Asian. If they're Chinese they'll rise to the top. If they're Indian they'll rise to the top. If they're Pakistani they won't.

"There are certain nationalities where hard work is highly valued. There are certain nationalities where they are uncertain what this hard work is all about.

"If the children are not allowed out of the site then it will make them want to escape into the forest - it will be a sexual volcano.

"Has anyone asked whether these children want to be plucked from their natural surroundings? They have never done boarding before, so they won't know how it works.

"The trauma of taking the children out of their natural surroundings is going to be considerable."

(H/CD)


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