Abolition of Preferential Minority Rights and 'Hate Crime' Legislation

Whilst such legislation is not entirely misplaced, attempting to legislate for non-hateful and non-prejudicial, non-disapproving attitudes from citizens is inevitably tyrannical and intrusive and amounts to government trying to play religion with voters' consciences. Such an approach also inevitably sets minority groups up as special 'hard luck cases' deserving and needing favourable treatment. Much of such legislation is also totally incompatible with free speech.

We will therefore abolish :

- all hate crime legislation

- differential sentencing for identical offences, if a racist motive is subjectively identified

- all positive discrimination and quota schemes in the workplace — employers will once again be free to employ and fire who they want to without risk of lawsuit

- most government bodies targeting purely race or culture-related issues

- all race and ethnicity questionnaires — that divisively encourage everyone to define themselves by their mere skin colour or cultural origins, rather than (in the words of Martin Luther King) 'the content of their character'. Incredibly, such questionnaires — by focusing on race and highlighting racial differences — are (on any definition) also inherently racist!

In spite of these abolitions, members of racial or cultural minorities need not fear that they would somehow be left defenceless, for in common with all other citizens, their fundamental right to live free from persecution will be rigorously defended through proposals targeting anti-social behaviour. Policy in this area will be kept under constant review however, and if significant disadvantage ensues then changes will be made.

Equality in Workplace Dress-Code Rights

Although under our proposals outlined above employers will be free to set workplace dress-codes for employees, the government should require employers to grant identical dress-code rights to all employees — so that if one employee is allowed to work with non-standard hair-length (such as dreadlocks) or headwear (such as a turban) then all other employees should be entitled to that same right.

Begging and Street Selling Banned

With a welfare state that is generous to a fault and that covers all reasonable housing and living expenses, there is no need for anyone to beg in modern-day Britain. The vast majority find begging offensive no matter how politely it is done and often it is rude and even aggressive. Begging also only delays the time when those engaging in it must face their problems in a less anti-social way. Begging should therefore be made an arrestable offence — no-one has the right to confront others in the street in such a manner — law-abiding citizens have a right to go about their business without feeling and being put upon in this way. 'Big Issue' selling (begging with a magazine) should therefore be abolished and all street sellers required to obtain a licence from the local council.

Sleeping Rough Banned

The reality of mental illness and addictions and the lack of truly appropriate places to stay for people tempted to sleep rough mean that city-dwellers across the country are confronted daily with the sight of people sleeping in shop doorways and under bridges and made to endure the associated rubbish and stench of urine and sight of human faeces — often within yards of expensive residential or business areas. This is both unacceptable and unnecessary.

We will therefore work with charities supporting those sleeping rough to ensure that both emergency overnight accommodation and longer-term accommodation of the appropriate kind is made available for the relatively small number of people affected. Once appropriate accommodation measures are in place in a particular city, everyone found sleeping rough will be required to use the facilities provided.

Travellers' Right To Hi-Jack Public Spaces and Litter Abolished

Traveller and Gypsy groups have often caused significant disruption to local communities by occupying land without permission (both private land and public land — such as a local beauty spot, playing fields, park and ride car parks or even the seafront of seaside towns!). When moving on, these groups invariably leave mountains of assorted rubbish which local council tax payers then have to pay to have removed.

This party respects the wish and right of anyone wishing to live a roaming lifestyle and will make strenuous attempts to make this possible. However, no-one is entitled to live in a country above the law, and everyone must respect the property rights of others.

A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF FULLY-EQUIPPED TRAVELLERS' SITES

Therefore, in consultation with gypsy/traveller representatives, a national network of large, purpose-built permanent traveller/gypsy sites will be established. The land to be owned and maintained by the local council and a reasonable charge made for occupation of a pitch and use of the facilities — which will include water, sewerage, electricity, internet access and digital TV. Anyone damaging or littering the sites will be tracked-down and prosecuted. Every effort will be made to manage these sites in such a way that travellers can come and go with their vehicles in an impersonal and quiet way, without feeling the need to 'get approved' by 'officialdom'.

In addition, and in common with everyone else, travellers will be permitted to use the new network of fully equipped roadside laybys for overnight stays (for which a charge will be payable).

Once sufficient sites are up and running in an area, any illegal occupation of land will mean immediate forcible removal of all vehicles, possessions and persons to the nearest local official site at the travellers' expense. The enforcement action to be carried out by the police (and not bailiffs as at present) who will then have full powers to arrest, detain and impound as they see fit (unlike bailiffs).

In the event that (even with significant additional provision across the country), sites are oversubscribed, then a system of rationing-by-random-draw will be put into effect — as the intention is not to actively encourage a roaming lifestyle, but rather to make reasonable provision for it.

All contracts for work on the initial construction and ongoing maintenance of all sites will be offered to gypsy/traveller contractors.

Excessive or Unused Disability Rights Reduced

Similar to other minority groups, lobbyists on behalf of the disabled (surely the most deserving of all minorities) have managed to guilt and bully successive governments into acceding to their demands for all manner of additional rights. After many years of this process, the balance appears to have been tipped too far in the direction of the disabled and against the legitimate needs and aspirations of businesses, taxpayers and the able-bodied. In particular, the following issues should be addressed :

DISABLED PARKING BAYS — These are an excellent and essential idea, but most of them seem to go almost entirely unused most of the time, to the detriment of mothers with babies and other drivers. The provision of such bays should be reviewed with the expectation that a significant reduction in number will be possible.

COMPULSORY ADAPTATIONS TO BUSINESS PREMISES — Requiring small businesses or taxpayers to pay the significant costs associated with the adaptation of minor business premises for the occasional use of a handful of disabled people is unreasonable. Being unfair to businesses and taxpayers in this way does not help the lot of the disabled and the government should not support such demands.

BRIDGES AND ENTRANCES DESIGN — The country is now replete with massively expensive and ugly bridges and building entrances designed to cater for wheelchair access and disability needs. Whilst such an approach is reasonable in order to ensure full accessibility to council buildings and essential transport and civic amenities, to apply an identical approach to rarely-used facilities seems excessive. We will therefore work with engineers and disability groups to see whether a less intrusive alternative can be found for some sites.

DISABLED EVENTS HELD SEPARATELY TO NON-DISABLED EVENTS — The skill and achievement of disabled athletes is remarkable and can stand on its own to create events worthy and capable of public support. The joy and celebration of able-bodied sport, however, is that of the aspirational, all-out pushing-back-the-boundaries-of-humanity kind, and such physical achievement must never be undermined or diminished by being set at equality with the overcoming of a disability. Overcoming disability and sporting prowess are fundamentally different achievements and we will require the major sporting bodies to respect and reflect that reality in the organisation of major public events.