Don't get stuck in a rut! Have the top stories straight to your inbox for free - once a day, every day Yes please! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Labour has withdrawn its offer of discounted tickets for black and ethnic minority people to hear Jeremy Corbyn speak after concerns were raised with an equalities watchdog.

The Conservatives complained to the Equalities and Human Right Commission (EHRC) after BAME (black and minority ethnic) activists were offered £30 tickets to hear the Labour leader speak in Loughborough next month while other attendees were charged £40.

The Tories say the tiered charging policy is racist and patronising to BAME while Labour says is was simply subsidising tickets for its East Midlands Regional Conference to encourage participation from under represented groups.

East Midlands Labour has however now withdrawn the offer of discounted tickets.

The EHRC told the Mercury: “Charging people different rates because of their race is unlawful discrimination unless it can be shown that this is a proportionate way of addressing low levels of participation.

“We will be writing to the Labour Party to ask them for their justification for this policy.”

An East Midlands Labour party spokeswoman said: “The Labour Party is taking advice on other ways we can increase the representation of BAME members at East Midlands Regional Conference in February.

“The intention behind the BAME pass was to increase the representation of under-represented groups which remains a priority for the party.”

Labour says none of its members have complained about the pricing structure and says the Tories and parts of the media are stirring up the issue for political reasons.

However lawyer and Conservative activist Mukesh Basra, from Leicester, said: “It is offensive to offer cheaper tickets on the basis of skin colour and it is patronising that Labour thinks BAME cannot afford to pay as much as white people.

“If they were concerned that people are being excluded they should have offered a discount to people on low incomes rather than segregate people based on race.”

Conservative North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen said: “It is disappointing Labour had to be forced kicking and screaming to remove the discriminatory surcharge.

“It was setting a very dangerous precedent insulting the white working class and patronising ethnic minorities.”

He said he wanted assurances the pricing structure would not be repeated.

Conservative East Midlands regional chairman Leigh Higgins said: “While Labour patronise people with a tenner the Conservatives have given a £1,000 plus income tax cut to millions of people.

“Clearly I do have to wonder why some people would then pay £40 see Jeremy Corbyn.”

Hemant Rae Bhatia, a Labour councillor for Beaumont Leys, said: “We in the region are simply trying to bring inclusivity and wider participation of BAME into the mainstream with our good intentions and efforts here."

A statement from Labour BAME said: "As an affiliate organisation within the Labour Party, we support any action that aims to increase BAME membership engagement and support the East Midland’s Regional Board’s decision to subsidise part of the cost of this year’s conference pass for BAME members.

“We reject Tory MPs suggestions that the Labour Party is abandoning white, working class people."