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Apology for blog's minstrel image Warning over blog minstrel image
(about 10 hours later)
A Labour councillor has removed a "blacked up" image of David Cameron from his website following criticism. A Labour councillor who posted a "blacked up" image of David Cameron from his website following criticism has agreed not to repeat the stunt.
Bob Piper, a councillor in Sandwell, West Midlands, said he had intended to offend the Conservative party but had not intended to offend black people. Bob Piper, a councillor in Sandwell, West Midlands, was warned by the council leader that a repetition could lead to withdrawal of the Labour whip.
He said he intended to offend the Conservative Party.
He apologised "unreservedly" if he had offended any black people by putting up the minstrel-style image on his blog.He apologised "unreservedly" if he had offended any black people by putting up the minstrel-style image on his blog.
He was criticised by leading Tories, the Labour leader of Sandwell Council and a race equality leader in the area. Councillor Bill Thomas told BBC News: "Bob is the furthest there could be from being a racist.
"But I did have to say to him that if there was any reoccurrence, I would have to consider taking the Labour whip away from him.
"He fully understood that and he has given copper-bottomed assurances that he will be much more thoughtful of what he puts on his blogsite in future," he said.
'Wind up''Wind up'
Mr Piper said on his website: "If the image and words on my site have offended black people, no matter how unintentional, then I apologise unreservedly to them."Mr Piper said on his website: "If the image and words on my site have offended black people, no matter how unintentional, then I apologise unreservedly to them."
He said the image was a reference to the Conservative Party's online Sort it Out campaign, which features a very tanned promotional character.He said the image was a reference to the Conservative Party's online Sort it Out campaign, which features a very tanned promotional character.
Mr Piper said he thought he had managed to "wind up" Tories and any comments from their party were "like water off a duck's back" to him.Mr Piper said he thought he had managed to "wind up" Tories and any comments from their party were "like water off a duck's back" to him.
But Grant Shapps, one of the Conservative Party's vice chairmen and MP for Welwyn Hatfield, had said it showed "a spectacular lack of judgement" and said his party may take the issue further.But Grant Shapps, one of the Conservative Party's vice chairmen and MP for Welwyn Hatfield, had said it showed "a spectacular lack of judgement" and said his party may take the issue further.
Very offensive 'Very offensive'
It was also criticised by Bill Thomas, the Labour leader of Sandwell Council, who told BBC News that the image "overstepped the mark". Dr Derrick Campbell, chief executive of Race Equality Sandwell, said it was "very offensive" to black people.
And Dr Derrick Campbell, chief executive of Race Equality Sandwell, said it was "very offensive" to black people.
Last month the Conservatives launched an anti-debt online campaign asking young people to "ignore the tosser in you" and reduce unnecessary spending.Last month the Conservatives launched an anti-debt online campaign asking young people to "ignore the tosser in you" and reduce unnecessary spending.
Visitors to the sort-it.co.uk site are asked to give details of their own overspending and debt.Visitors to the sort-it.co.uk site are asked to give details of their own overspending and debt.
The party said the idea behind it was to create an online home for "a whole bunch of issues, with practical things that you can do to make a difference".The party said the idea behind it was to create an online home for "a whole bunch of issues, with practical things that you can do to make a difference".