In response to controversial comments by David Whelan, owner of Wigan Athletic FC, Karl Turner MP has today written to David Cameron.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Prime Minister,

David Whelan, the owner of Wigan Athletic FC and a significant Conservative Party donor, yesterday made anti-Semitic and racist remarks to the Guardian newspaper.

He has so far not retracted these comments.

He said:

“The Jews don’t like losing money… I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else”

David Whelan, The Guardian, 21 November 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/20/wigan-dave-whelan-accused-antisemitism-jewish-people

He also went on to use racist language in describing Chinese people:

“If any Englishman said he has never called a Chinaman a chink he is lying…There is nothing bad about doing that.”

David Whelan, The Guardian, 21 November 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/20/wigan-dave-whelan-accused-antisemitism-jewish-people

These comments have already been widely condemned by the anti-racism campaign ‘Kick it Out’, the Jewish Leadership Council and other Jewish and Chinese community leaders.

David Whelan is a significant donor to the Conservative Party, and has donated £1.5million since 2007.  His most recent donation of £100,000 was received by the Conservative Party on the 2th August 2014.  Given his status as a significant contributor to your re-election efforts you must now make it clear if you personally condone or condemn these comments.

I hope that you agree with me that these anti-Semitic and racist comments have no place in modern British society, and as such I hope that you also agree with me that you must now give up any money that you have received from Mr Whelan and consider which charitable groups would be better recipients of it.

Failure to act swiftly in this matter will show a lack of leadership.  It will not be possible for you to simultaneously condemn offensive remarks while accepting large sums of money from those responsible for them.

I am copying this letter to the Conservative Party Chairman, Grant Shapps.

Best Wishes

Karl Turner MP