A POLITICAL activist who labelled Asian communities as 'often poorly educated' is facing calls for his resignation.

Alan Roughley, chairman of Oldham Liberal Democrats, has been accused of painting a 'grotesque caricature' in a leaked letter to Lord Rennard, his party's chief executive.

In it, he wrote 'people of Indian sub-continent descent' in his local community 'have only a very hazy understanding about the place of political parties in the British political system'.

He added: "To them, there seem to be just two parties - the one in power and the one that might replace them.

"Their communities are often poorly educated, yet display great energy in seeking to obtain extra facilities exclusively for themselves."

The letter was condemned by political figures including Conservative spokesman Paul Goodman, who described it as `a grotesque caricature'. Now Labour parish councillor Ken Hulme, who lives in Coun Roughley's Saddleworth North ward, has called for his resignation.

He said: "You can't engage in this sort of insulting behaviour and expect to hold a position of political responsibility in a borough as diverse as Oldham. I'm ashamed to have him representing Saddleworth on the council. There are many British Asian councillors from both main parties who are educated and committed to working for the whole community."

David Jones, Labour leader of Oldham council, called Coun Roughley's comments 'unhelpful' and added: "One thing we are trying to move away from is stereotyping people."

Coun Roughley himself said: "The phrasing was not what would have been put in a publication. It was a private letter."