Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan has accused Wandsworth Council of 'ducking' the issue of hate crime.

Councillors have backed a post-Brexit motion that confirmed the council's commitment to condemning "racist language and behaviour in all its forms" but voted down Dr Allin-Khan's amendment to form a 'zero tolerance zone for hate crime' in the borough.

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Dr Allin-Khan, who is still a councillor, said: "[On Wednesday night] Wandsworth Tories opposed my proposal that the borough should establish a zero-tolerance zone for Hate Crime.

"The Met Commissioner told the London Assembly that in the two weeks following the Brexit vote there had been a 75 per cent increase in arrests for hate crime.

"By opposing a crack-down on this type of crime the Tories are ducking this important issue."

Since the referendum, there has been a sharp increase in reported hate crimes across the UK but Wandsworth police confirmed there has not been a significant increase of racially motivated crime in the area.

There are 26,000 EU nationals on the electoral register in Wandsworth and council leader Ravi Govindia was keen to stress to worried citizens that "we value you at part of our society".

At a full council meeting on Wednesday July 20, Cllr Govindia said: "The first thing to say [to EU citizens] is we value you.

"We value your contribution to our economy, to our institutions of learning, to our health service.

"We value you as part of our society.

"Looking around the Nine Elms development it was very evident that many of the workforce are from eastern Europe, they are filling skills gaps and helping developments on the greatest regeneration project in our capital.

"Their contribution to its success is immense and valuable, surely we want these people to stay and thrive."

New Labour leader, Councillor Simon Hogg, who seconded the original motion, said: "At this time of uncertainty and division it is important that the Leaders of the two major parties in Wandsworth Council can unite.

"Some individual councillors may have voted to leave the EU but Labour and Tory councillors share the common objective of ensuring the best possible outcome for the people of this borough."