It is not a general way, Al. I am half Polish and when the implication is that east Europeans are criminals it rankles me too. Maybe that does not mean anything to you either? Do you remember the point you made by quoting Kipling? 'Single me in barracks don't grow into plaster Saints'. It was because you had said that crime had increased in your locality because of the influx of young east Europeans. It was that comment I considered racist as it is proven that an influx of east Europeans generally lowers the crime rate. If you now say that the increase in crime is not due to the influx of young east Europeans then I owe you an apology. If you were offended by being called a racist then maybe you can see that I was offended by being told we are more prone to commit crimes than other people.

Anyway, it is all water under the bridge and nothing to do with the new Labour leader. If we have both learned something from it, it was a worthwhile discussion. I have learned that you are not a racist and that I need to consider what you have said as not having the obvious meaning. What have you learned?