STANDING as Labour's general election candidate in the Ribble Valley, Burnley councillor Marcus Johnstone has been accused of "apparently inciting people to riot" by Conservative candidate Nigel Evans.

This week Mr Evans has written to the chairman of Ribble Valley Labour Party, drawing his attention to an article which appeared in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph on December 6, 1995.

In it, Councillor Johnstone said: "The way the French make representations to their Government is considerably more effective than ours.

"The events on Paris are at the moment an inspiration to us all. It is a pity that our people don't respond in the same way to a right wing government as the French."

Mr Evans said: "Mr Johnstone's words are an absolute disgrace. I cannot see how the Labour Party can endorse a candidate who actively incites people to break the law.

"At the very least an apology, a retraction and an explanation should be published so that the people of Ribble Valley can see they are not being asked to support a man who wants people to riot."

He added: "Mr Johnstone has also called for 'a massive re-distribution of wealth' because 'we cannot afford the rich.'

"How does he now feel about these sentiments in the light of Tony Blair's recent panderings to the City?

"I am sure that he will now try to sweep them under the carpet, but I feel that it is important for voters in our area to know his true background and sentiments.

"If he is proud of what he has said he will want people to know, and if he is ashamed of his past he will try to bury it. I am sure that the people of Ribble Valley will await his response with interest."

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