LONDON (August, 1996) - Reform Party leader Preston Manning has assured Fp's Political Issues Analyst Murray Hopper that he "did not act precipitately in suspending" Reform Party members Bob Ringma and Dave Chatters for making allegedly racist comments.

"Please also be assured that I very much dislike having to take this type of action at all," wrote Manning, in his response to Hopper's May 29 open letter to the Reform Party leader. Hopper, a contributing Reform Party member himself, had his letter distributed at the past Reform Party convention in Vancouver, and it apparently reflected the feelings of a great many Reform Party members who were disappointed at Manning's failure to defend his MPs.

"You missed a golden opportunity to spring to the defense of capitalism and to support the right of every employer to deal with his employees according to contract," said Hopper's letter. "You could have fought back, but did not."

Manning told Hopper that he had "reviewed the full transcripts of their interviews to determine the context of their remarks and the exact words" before arriving at his decision.

He went on to say that he similarly decided to reinstate both MPs to full Caucus participation "after I met with them individually, and they satisfied me that they both fully support Reform's position that all Canadians have the right to freedom from discrimination and that they believe in equality for all."

In an October 10 written response to Manning, Hopper thanked him for his concern and forthrightness.

"I am sure we both share a common love for our dear Canada, and want to see her prosperous and free of intrusive government," he wrote.

Hopper also requested copies of the transcripts of what Chatters and Ringma actually said, adding: "I am sure we can both agree on one thing: in far too many cases, the media resort to dubious characterizations of what was said, and avoid the verbatim."

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