A BLACK and white minstrels stage show has blamed politically correct council officials for its decision to abandon a 45-year-old tradition of blacking up.

Almost 20 years after the The Black And White Minstrel Show was removed from BBC television schedules, the Angus Black and White Minstrels are to be known from now on as the Angus Minstrels and will perform without black boot polish at their charity fundraisers at Arbroath in Angus.

Gary Mitchell, one of the group’s members, said last night that the stage act, which performs at a council-run theatre, took the decision after the cultural services department of Angus Council called them in for a meeting.

He said: “Reading between the lines, I knew the various points which were likely to be raised, the main ones being the blackening of the faces and changing the name, ‘Angus Black and White Minstrels’.

“At the meeting, it was stated that a complaint about blackening up and the ‘Black and White’ name had been received by Angus Council . . . The council’s position was that they had a duty to ensure that various issues on racial equality were adhered to, as trustees of the Webster Theatre.”

Mr Mitchell added that the council felt that the show, in its previous form, could have resulted in the local authority being taken to court for “portraying racial stereotyping”.

Critics of the decision said it was an example of “political correctness gone mad”. A spokeswoman for Angus Council, however, said that the initiative had been taken by the group themselves.

She said: “At a meeting with the council a few months ago representatives of the minstrels voluntarily stated that they would in future be billing the group as the Angus Minstrels and would no longer be blacking up.”

The spokeswoman added: “The council is very pleased that the group has taken this step, as it is in keeping with the council’s promotion of equality and reflects that times have changed, as has legislation.”

Andrew Welsh, a member of the Scottish Parliament for Angus, said: “The Minstrels have contributed an enormous amount to a whole range of charities over 30-plus years and their tradition will, thankfully, continue.” He added: “There has never been any intention of racism in any shape or form. It has never occurred to anybody in it. There is absolutely no hint of racism. It just doesn’t exist in Arbroath.”

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