LONDON’S DEPUTY mayor Richard Barnes, who is in charge of equality issues in the city, has been forced to apologise following disparaging remarks made about Irish builders.
During a debate of the London Assembly’s transport committee last week on the cost of building a high-speed rail between London and the north of England, Mr Barnes questioned the estimates that have been put forward for refurbishing Euston Station.
“Are they like most Irish builders, saying it’s going to be roughly that? Are we working on estimates?” said the Conservative, who licked his finger as if he was checking the wind direction as he made his comment.
A Liberal Democrat member of the London Assembly, Dublin-born Baroness Dee Doocey, was one of a number to criticise Mr Barnes.
“I find the remarks made offensive and incredibly ill-informed,” she said. “It is shocking that such comments were made at City Hall by someone who has a key role on equality issues across the capital.
“Would he ever dream of making such comments about any other community in London?”
Labour Assembly member Murad Qureshi, who was present at the July 14th meeting, said: “I was taken aback by the comment. Given the huge contribution made by the Irish in building London, this is particularly offensive.
“What is even more shocking is that he made these comments as the mayor’s lead on equality and diversity policies. He should make an unreserved apology to the Irish in London. He’s been pretty exemplary on the subject of equality other than this.”
Federation of Irish Societies chief executive Jennie McShannon said the federation was “surprised by Mr Barnes’s inappropriate and unnecessary remark”, adding that “such throwaway comments from the mayor’s deputy suggests a somewhat cavalier attitude towards equalities”.
Irish builders had erected much of London’s skyline, she said, and helped to build London’s Olympic stadiums on time and under budget.
“What he considers acceptable and humorous is in fact an outdated and frankly disrespectful view of the many outstanding Irish building companies in Britain.”
In a statement last night Mr Barnes apologised. “This was a throwaway line and no offence was intended. As someone who recognises the contribution of Irish people to London life and has a lot of Irish friends it was not my intention to impugn anyone. I apologise for any offence that might have been caused.”
On his website Mr Barnes trumpets his work on equality in London, saying he has led on social justice policies for mayor Boris Johnson.
