Britannia Radio

6 April 2009 Admit Being White Caucasian is Racist It may no longer be lawful to describe yourself as "white Caucasian", even if you are! It certainly attracts the attention of the police. During an incident at London Heathrow, terminal 1, on Monday 30 March 2009, I used those words to describe myself as part of an explosion of irritation after an excessive, aggressive and somewhat too intimate body search.   Instead of taking note of my complaint about the manner of this particular body search, the security managers called in then accused me of making trouble by complaining. Exasperated, I finally said "Look at me.  Do I look like a terrorist?  A man in his 70s. White Caucasian. Come on."  A male voice nearby immediately shouted "Racist remark. Call the police."  And they did! The security police eventually arrived and took statements from all the many people now involved, including myself. They refused to accept my claim to be an MEP, despite offering them evidence and my boarding pass to prove I was on my way to Brussels. They later said they could not verify my claim to be an MEP, despite the fact that my status (or lack of it) had nothing to do with the incident itself.  After an hour or so of delay, normality returned. I had to catch the next flight.  But I missed a crucial vote on next year's budget and the chance to cross-examine the president of the European Central Bank, Jean Claude Trichet, who was attending a special meeting of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee to talk about the global financial crisis. In a letter about this incident to the Home Secretary and the Head of Counter Terrorism at Scotland Yard, I repeat my claim to be a white Caucasian, and ask how a matter of self-evident fact can be "racist".   To respond to, or comment on this Email, please email ashley.mote@btconnect.com You have signed up to receive these notifications.