Sadiq Khan condemns Air China’s 'racist' London tour guide

'Londoners from different backgrounds living side by side is one of our greatest strengths,' says the Mayor of London

Maya Oppenheim
Sunday 11 September 2016 15:33 BST
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Virendra Sharma, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall in west London, where almost 40 per cent of the population is Asian, says Air China's advice was 'blatant racism'
Virendra Sharma, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall in west London, where almost 40 per cent of the population is Asian, says Air China's advice was 'blatant racism'

Sadiq Khan has weighed in on the row over Air China’s "racist" tour guide to London and insisted the capital is one of the safest in the world and its multicultural composition is one of its greatest strengths.

Air China, the country’s national airline, prompted outrage after warning travellers to avoid visiting areas of London “populated by Indians, Pakistanis and black people” in its in-flight magazine Wings of China.

The guide also said: “We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling.”

The row emerged on Wednesday after Haze Fan, a Beijing-based producer for CNBC, noticed the advice while travelling to the UK. She took a photograph of the guide and shared it on Twitter asking Khan, the Mayor of London, what he thought of it.

Khan has now spoken out in defence of London and said London’s mix is one of its strongest assets.

“London is one of the safest cities in the world and Londoners from different backgrounds living side by side is one of our greatest strengths,” said a spokesman for Khan.

“The mayor is pleased that the magazine has now been withdrawn”.

Air China released an apology and withdrew the controversial edition after outrage emerged.

After the indignation emerged, Virendra Sharma, the Labour MP for Ealing Southall in west London, where almost 40 per cent of the population is Asian, said Air China's advice was “blatant racism”, and invited the airline to visit the area.

“I am shocked and appalled that even today some people would see it as acceptable to write such blatantly untrue and racist statements," he said.

“I have raised this issue with the Chinese ambassador, and requested that he ensures an apology is swiftly forthcoming from Air China, and the magazine is removed from circulation immediately. I have invited representatives of Air China to visit my constituency of Ealing Southall to see that a very multicultural area is safe, and would be of great value for those visiting London to see.”

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