Riots town warned 'poison of hatred' threatens

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock today warned a town ravaged by riots last summer against the ‘‘poison of hatred’’ that threatens to split its communities once again.

The European Commissioner told anti-racism campaigners in Oldham, Greater Manchester that the policies of the British National Party - canvassing in the town ahead of May’s local council elections - were ‘‘economically, socially and morally ruinous’’.