Lib Dems bar language-row postmaster
A POSTMASTER who banned customers from his shop who could not speak English has been barred from the Liberal Democrats party.
Gedling Borough councillor Deva Kumarasiri, who moved from Sri Lanka 18 years ago, caused a storm of controversy after the Evening Post revealed he would not serve non-English speaking customers until they returned with an interpreter.
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Deva Kumarasiri
He is now no longer a member of the Lib Dems after his views sparked concern in the party.
Gedling Lib Dem leader Tony Gillam said Coun Kumarasiri's opinions meant he could no longer be a member of the party.
Coun Gillam said: "Deva is not a Liberal Democrat councillor. The views expressed go well beyond what we can accommodate."
Coun Gillam added it was against party rules for Coun Kumarasiri, who was elected as a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Valley ward, to speak to the media about anything other than issues affecting his ward.
Coun Gillam said the party did not have to formally expel Coun Kumarasiri as he had not paid his member's subscriptions for the past 18 months.
He said: "He has not been a member of the party for 18 months.
"If he reapplied the party would refuse to accept it."
Yesterday Coun Kumarasiri said he had not officially heard from the party but had heard his membership was suspended.
He said he had fallen behind with his payments after losing his livelihood when the Carlton post office, where he was postmaster, was closed.
He said: "I am looking forward to being an independent. I can express myself if I am thinking a different way."
He added he did not believe his constituents would oppose the move as he felt they had voted for him because they knew him, not because of his political party.
Coun Kumarasiri was the only councillor to stand for the ward at the last election.
Coun Kumarasiri's website www.britishnessforever.co.uk calls for great integration in society and asks for the views of the British public on a number of political issues.
It also criticises Government policies on crime and says the UK has become a "haven" for terrorists and criminals.
It states: "At Britishness Forever, we want the good old British values to exist in our society as it was a few decades back.
"In order to make this goal achievable, we hope to address people's needs from grass root level."
Coun Kumarasiri said he had not ruled out establishing Britishness Forever as a political party.
He said: "If people are backing me up why not?
"This is a party which is standing for the people. This is a working class people's party.
"It is for white people, black people, Asians, everybody."
He added customers in the Sneinton Dale post office had been largely supportive of his views.
sarah.firth@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
52 Comments
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by Peter West, Northampton
Monday, March 23 2009, 8:13AM
“In case J of Leics is referring to me when he speaks of a lack of academic impartiality.
1 ) Even if his wife is a PhD and his relations are academics, it does not prove that he is either intelligent or educated.
2 ) My study of 20th century totalitarianism has shown me that the extreme right, patricularly the Nazis, were evil and murdered millions of people, something I utterly condemn, and that the extreme left, in particular Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, were at least as evil and killed many times as many innocent people as the Nazis.
That is academic impartiality.
J of Leics rightly condemns the Nazis, but praises the Communists, and refuses to acknowledge their heinous crimes.
That is holocaust denial.”
by Malc, BNP Office
Monday, March 23 2009, 12:33AM
“Should get plenty of votes this June , everthing looking good, come on give us even more votes to shut up Commies like J, Lies from Leic , stupid thuggish idiots like him should be banned from these posts.”
by The Future, Investmant Bank
Monday, March 23 2009, 12:22AM
“(Yeah, the tories will get in. )
Great i say, well said madbodger you are right as always.”
by j, leic
Monday, March 23 2009, 12:02AM
“Madbager, leave it mate. My wife is a Doctor (of the Phd variety), and other members of my family are academics; it is more than apparent that this joker wouldn't understand academic impartiality if it biffed him on the nose.
He is a google cut 'n' paster, don't give him the oxygen of attention he craves.”
by GARRA, Notts
Sunday, March 22 2009, 8:26PM
“Im so happy lib dem banned him from the party and most defintly I will vote for leb dem in next alection.”
by Barry, Stapleford
Sunday, March 22 2009, 8:19PM
“So the Lib Dems have at last shown there true colours, and it will no doubt cost them votes. People will now realise what a joke the party are, but fair play to them at least they made a decision, at that must be a first.”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Sunday, March 22 2009, 6:43PM
“Yeah, the tories will get in.”
by simon, London
Sunday, March 22 2009, 6:29PM
“The time is coming when the majority will react against the liberal political correctness which seeks to undermine our society. In due course the majority will understand the power they have and will redress the balance and kick out those few people who have sought to impress their ideals on the rest of us.
Political correctness days are numbered.”
by l hamilton, notts
Sunday, March 22 2009, 6:08PM
“I guess many of us who have travelled abroad have been into a shop etc for some service or other and have no doubt felt in adequate when coming face to face with a non english speaking assistant, for this reason alone I can't understand why many immigrants have not bothered to learn the basics of english. Ignorance is indeed the only winner hear!”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Sunday, March 22 2009, 3:28PM
“"You are the third person on this site who has refused to confirm their acceptance of the Soviet Holocaust."
Where did I do that?
"And you criticise David Irving !"
David Irving is a proven liar and a holocaust denier. His status as a historian is in tatters, apart from certain circles.”