One island deputy claims the laws are unnecessary

The States is due to decide on Wednesday whether to ratify laws aimed at preventing discrimination.

Deputy Jean Pritchard says although the problem is small there is evidence some Portuguese and Latvian workers are being subjected to racism.

The deputy has denied claims the States is considering the law simply because of political correctness.

'Unnecessary' legislation

Ms Pritchard said: "I really don't like that expression of political correctness.

"I think it's misused in this case because it's saying 'this is a society that doesn't tolerate the incitement of racial hatred. It doesn't tolerate racial abuse'.

"That isn't political correctness, it's just saying 'this is wrong'."

Deputy Dave Jones has described the proposed new laws as a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

He believes Guernsey is a tolerant community and the laws are unnecessary.

"It's about common sense and common sense appears to have gone out the window with the States of Guernsey at the moment", he said.

"We have to have huge pieces of legislation just to make us like everybody else, when half of that legislation in my view is totally alien to us and not needed."