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A Labour Party decision to give members from ethnic minorities subsidised tickets for a conference in Loughborough is being looked into by equality experts.

BAME (black and minority ethnic) attendees at next month’s gathering in the East Midlands, where leader Jeremy Corbyn will speak, are being charged £30, in comparison to a £40 charge for other groups.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has confirmed it is “looking at the detail” of the situation.

A spokesman said: "A complaint has been received and we are looking at the detail before considering what action, if any, is needed.”

Concerns have been raised that the tiered pricing structure for the event on Saturday, February 17, is illegal.

Leicestershire Police has been contacted regarding the issue, but chief constable Simon Cole, said it is “not a recordable crime”.

(Image: WILL JOHNSTON)

He said: “What is alleged is not a recordable crime. Enforcement and investigation powers re the Equality Act sit with EHRC.”

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police added: “We are aware of concerns raised regarding admission prices at a Labour Party conference held in Leicestershire next month and we would advise anyone who feels that the Equality Act may have been breached to contact the EHRC .”

The East Midlands Labour Party said that BAME tickets are being subsidised after the branch's lead on BAME issues applied for funding from the NEC's Democracy and Diversity fund to be able to do so.

A regional Labour Party spokesperson said: "The basic price of an East Midlands conference pass is the same for all members but, at the request of the East Midlands Regional Board, the Labour Party’s Democracy and Diversity fund will be used to subsidise the cost of this year's conference pass for BAME members.

“The purpose of the Diversity and Democracy Fund is to encourage wider participation across our Party, ensuring our conferences reflect Labour’s diverse membership."

Hemant Rae Bhatia, a Labour councillor for Beaumont Leys, responded to the ticket costs following an article referencing them appearing in the Mail on Sunday.

He 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."

Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, has been quoted saying he feels the pricing is “discriminatory and illegal”.

He also confirmed that he had been in contact with Rebecca Hilsenrath, the chief executive of the EHRC.

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