A MEMBER of Worcester City Council's Labour leadership says both sides of the EU debate peddled too many "lies" - and fears the city being torn apart by intolerance.

Councillor Jabba Riaz, who sits in the cabinet, has called upon Worcester people to unite to tackle "the underbelly of hate" he insists the campaign ignited.

The politician also admitted he is concerned about the impact Brexit could have on foreign people, saying the public should be extra-aware of the vote stirring potential "resentment" towards non-Brits over the coming weeks and months.

Over the weekend more than 100 incidents of racial abuse and hate crime were reported across the UK, with many perpetrators specifically citing the EU.

Yesterday David Cameron used his first Commons speech since last week to hit out at the culprits.

Councillor Riaz, who represents the Cathedral ward, said: "It is an underestimation to state that the magnitude of this decision to vote Leave has yet to be realised.

"The Brexit result has somehow falsely legitimised hate, open criticism and in some cases the terrorising of foreign nationals in our community and nation.

"I will go on record to having stated that we as a community need to stand up more than ever before for the values of fairness, inclusively and tolerance.

"We must not bow to the actions of a few, and defend our freedoms and our neighbours whether they be black, brown, yellow or white and regardless of faith, creed or beliefs.

"We as a city must unite and protect our neighbours and fellow men, women and children from such abuse."

In one video which has gone viral over the internet, purportedly filmed in Hackney, London, a man was shown arguing with someone in a car before yelling: “Go back to your country.”

In Huntington, Cambridgeshire, there have been reports of signs saying “Leave the EU, no more Polish vermin” posted through the letter boxes of Polish families.

And in west London the Polish and Social Cultural Association was vandalised with suspected racist graffiti on Sunday morning – another example widely reported since Saturday.

Labour MP Jess Phillips yesterday said she would put forward a question to Parliament to find out how many incidents of racial hatred have been reported over the weekend compared to before the referendum.

Councillor Riaz also told the Worcester News he felt that immigration had played too large a part in the EU referendum debate.

The Leave campaign made the tally of EU migrants arriving to Britain, a record 184,000 last year including 77,000 without a job, a central issue - using it to call for an Australian-style points system.

Councillor Riaz added: "There is enough wealth and resources on this earth that no one gets hungry or has a roof over their head.

"We easily forget 99 per cent of the world's wealth is in the hands of one per cent of the people - to blame all our nation's woes on people arriving here is sadly misguided and somewhat delusional."

Yesterday in the Commons, the Prime Minister told MPs the Government would "not stand" for it.

He said: "In the past few days we have seen despicable graffiti daubed on a Polish community centre, we've seen verbal abuse hurled against individuals because they are members of ethnic minorities.

"Let's remember these people have come here and made a wonderful contribution to our country.

"We will not stand for hate crime or these kinds of attacks, they must be stamped out."