’The attitude we have seen taken towards Shilpa Shetty is not only wrong but is the the exact opposite to the approach that London takes towards the different cultures that exist in our city. All cultures are welcome in London, and we do not ask anyone to give up their culture or background in order to be welcome and to contribute to the city and its prosperity. The treatment meted out to Shilpa Shetty is totally opposite to such an approach.

’Racism is not only unacceptable in itself but undermines London’s prosperity - India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and London has not only a moral, but a directly economic interest, in making Indian people and their culture feel comfortable and welcome.’

10,000 complain over CBB ’race bullies’ - Jan 16 2007
Celebrity Big Brother has prompted nearly 10,000 viewer complaints about alleged racist bullying.

Media watchdog Ofcom had received a record 7,600 calls and emails by the end of Tuesday about the treatment of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

A further 2,000 viewers contacted Channel 4 to voice their dismay.

They believe housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O’Meara have made racist jibes about the Indian actress.

The controversy spread to Parliament when a Labour MP Keith Vaz tabled a motion on the subject in the House of Commons.

British Asians posted messages on websites saying they were appalled by the programme.

And TV star Meera Syal branded the show a "vile spectacle".

The Goodness Gracious Me star told the BBC Asian Network: "What this treatment of Shilpa has done is remind a lot of Asian people in Britain of the type of uncomfortable treatment they’ve received themselves over the years.

"This is bullying and we mustn’t forget the impressionable people who watch this show. There is a very thin line between what is entertainment and a vile spectacle and I think we are in that area now."

Channel 4 have released a statement stressing that Shilpa had made no complaints of racism.

MP raises CBB ’racism’ in Commons - Jan 16 2007
Labour MP Keith Vaz has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons about the treatment of Celebrity Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty.

Mr Vaz said members of his Leicester East constituency had contacted him about alleged racism on the Channel 4 show.

The early day motion (EDM) reads: "This House views with concern the comments made about Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty by other housemates; believes that Big Brother has a role to play in preventing racist behaviour in the Big Brother house; regrets that these comments have been made; and calls on the programme to take urgent action to remind housemates that racist behaviour is unacceptable."

EDMs are used by MPs to highlight an issue and appear on the Commons Order Paper each day.

Mr Vaz said: "I have been contacted by constituents who have expressed concern that apparently racist comments in the Big Brother house have passed without any response from the Big Brother programme.

"We would not tolerate this kind of racism on other types of television programme and we should not do so on a programme that is watched by millions of people."

It is not the first time Celebrity Big Brother has been mentioned in the Commons.

Last January Labour MP Chris Bryant questioned how contestant George Galloway had managed to sign a series of Early Day Motions while locked up in the Big Brother house.

Speaker Michael Martin later cleared him of any wrongdoing.