As an occasional watcher of Robert Kilroy-Silk's programme I largely considered him as a general, though occasionally misguided, force for good. That said I had never read any of his Daily Express articles nor was I aware of the anti-Arab views that he clearly holds.

Speaking personally: I am deeply disturbed, as an individual holding office as a Labour Councillor that a former Labour Member of Parliament could hold such views and have such little respect for a majority of people he has never met and whose culture he so clearly knows nothing about. I can say with certainly that no Labour MP or councillor I have ever met would express such disrespectful views and furthermore I am impressed with the determination of all of my county colleagues of whatever persuasion to improve the Councils position here. We will be meeting as a Scrutiny Committee next week at the request of the Executive tasked with ensuring that our draft racial equality policy reflects the quality that all our communities deserve and effectively consulting with the Lincolnshire Racial Equality Council and the CRE. For Lincolnshire this will be an important step towards a better understanding of the positive roles all people of good will should now wish to fulfil in any decent community.

The implication that all asylum seekers are here simply to draw benefits is an offence to them and ignores the fact that the asylum seekers he refers to are here legitimately because we recognise they are in genuine danger at home. I have met very few asylum seekers who would not prefer to return home as would most people forcible removed from their communities. The benefits they receive constitutes a level of income Mr Kilroy-Silk has not seen since his his last paper round.

I feel a former colleague has betrayed us in our work. Ironically I might well have believed an unconditional apology. Oswald Moseley comes to mind instead, himself a former MP of both major parties. As a Christian, I might observe also, that the three major world faiths, Moslem, Jewish and Christian all arose in that part of the world he says we owe nothing to along with great empires, such as that of the Egyptians and the Persians.  All this and much more emanating from the Middle East has proved a positive force for culture, learning and faith.
Even more disturbing is the decision of a national newspaper to risk inciting racial hatred by persuading its readers to publicly endorse Mr Kilroy-Silk's position. Such behaviour by two "institutions" which claim positions of respect in British society could cause incalculable damage to local relations even here in Lincolnshire where much good work has gone on to build trust, respect and to celebrate diversity.
I believe that the Daily Express Front Page of January 12th deliberately misleads the public regarding Mr Kilroy-Silks article with the statement that “97% of you support Express writer gagged by BBC after criticising rogue Arab states”. Without question Mr Kilroy-Silks rant attacked all the countries of the Middle-East irrespective of their support or opposition to terrorism.
May I express, as an individual, my full support for the courageous action you, the CRE and the BBC have taken and assure you of my best wishes for a just resolution of the offence that has been given to so many innocent Moslems both here and abroad.
Yours sincerely,