http://www.mirror. co.uk/news/ topstories/ 2007/10/01/ tories-in- bnp-storm- 89520-19874392/
TORIES IN BNP STORM
The Tories at BLACKPOOL 2007 Leader backs race row peer
By Rosa Prince Political Correspondent 01/10/2007

David Cameron yesterday defended a Tory baroness after she sympathised with BNP
voters.

Shadow minister Sayeeda Warsi, a Muslim peer whose parents are immigrants,
sparked outrage by saying that supporters of the far-right party held "some very
legitimate views".

Mr Cameron had been expected to slap down his new peer, or even expel her from
the party.

Instead, he said: "Sayeeda has spent most of her political life fighting the
BNP. It is a dreadful party. But we have to recognise people have concerns about
immigration. "
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Lady Warsi, whose Pakistani father is a mill worker and Labour supporter, said
immigration was "out of control" in the UK. She added that large numbers
arriving "overnight" made people feel "uneasy" and called for stricter limits.

She said: "The pace of change unsettles communities. We need to have a debate.
Immigration has been out of control. We don't have proper checks. We don't have
any idea how many people are here. There are a lot of people out there who are
voting for the British National Party.

"It's those people we mustn't write off and say, 'Well we won't bother because
they are voting BNP, we won't engage with them'.

"They have some very legitimate views." But Simon Woolley, head of Operation
Black Vote, which the peer used to work for, said: "Pandering to racist views
peddled by the BNP is grotesque.

"This country would collapse if it wasn't for migrant workers. This is BNP
language she's using."

Yesterday, Lady Warsi stood by her comments and said: "To suggest I am some sort
of apologist for the British National Party is ludicrous.

"I was talking about people who have been duped into voting for the BNP because
they feel some of their concerns are not being dealt with by the mainstream
political parties."