Sir - I was disgusted by the sweeping generalisations by Independent Working Class Association councillors, Stuart Craft and Claire Kent, at a meeting of Oxford City Council (Oxford Mail, August 2).
How can they be fit to represent the citizens of Oxford when they ask for people with alcohol or mental health problems to be removed from council housing near elderly or vulnerable people "because they cause trouble"?
I am appalled at such an inaccurate and prejudiced claim made by people who are meant to be representatives of the people of Oxford.
They certainly don't represent me.
Mr Kent stated that people are too scared to leave their houses.
I wonder, is that because people with mental health and/or alcohol problems are terrorising them, or is it because of the scare-mongering propaganda the IWCA so love to spread among the vulnerable people they claim to represent?
As a councillor, I know areas of Oxford where there are people with mental health and/or alcohol problems.
But these people are often those who care enough to work hard to hold the community together and strive to build a safe and welcoming place for children and adults alike.
What would the IWCA make of that?
Yes, people do sometimes behave antisocially, but it is wrong to assume that just because people are in a particular social group, or have a particular health issue, they will behave antisocially.
Oxford City Council has a duty to provide care and support to all people in Oxford, but I believe that duty of care does not extend to making incorrect and dangerous assumptions and generalisations about particular groups.
It neither extends to spreading scaremongering propaganda that does nothing but create fear and hatred.
Tony Brett (Councillor)
Oxford City Council
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