Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron has called on the Government to do more to tackle soaring levels of hate crime during a visit to the curry mile in Manchester last week. Greater Manchester has seen hate crime rise to record levels since the Brexit vote last June.
Analysis of official statistics show hate crime offences recorded by Greater Manchester Police rose by 19 per cent from June to September last year - to 1,033 cases. Over the year there were 4842 cases of hate crime in Greater Manchester, 3979 were motivated by race and 438 by religion. This is the highest figure outside London which recorded 13,385 cases of hate crime over the past year.
He discussed the issue with the owners of the MyLahore restaurant in Rusholme alongside the Liberal Democrat candidate for Manchester Gorton Jackie Pearcey, who spent decades working for all our communities as a local councillor.
The Lib Dem Leader said: "Manchester is home to many multicultural communities where people are deeply worried about the rising levels of hate crime we have seen over the past year.
"The hateful language used by the Brexit campaign has created a climate that has encouraged these digraceful attacks.
"Now the Government is adopting the same language against migrants Labour is backing them on Brexit.
"Politicians and the media have a responsibility to avoid language that demonises refugees and migrants and make clear that there is zero tolerance for hate crime in our communities.
"No-one in this country should fear being attacked because of their race or religion."
