Mr (Slough) (Lab): If
I decide to wear a turban, or you, Mr Speaker, decide to wear a
cross, or he decides to wear a kippah or skull cap, or she decides
to wear a hijab or a burqa, does that mean that it is open season
for right hon. Members of this House to make derogatory and
divisive remarks about our appearance? For those of us who, from a
young age, have had to endure and face up to being called names
such as towelhead or Taliban, or to people saying we come from
bongo, bongo land, we can appreciate full well the hurt and pain
felt by already vulnerable Muslim women when they are described as
looking like bank robbers and letterboxes. So rather than hide
behind sham and whitewash investigations, when will the Prime
Minister finally apologise for his derogatory and racist remarks?
[Applause.] Those racist remarks have led to a spike in hate crime.
Given the increasing prevalence of such incidents within his party,
when will the Prime Minister finally order an inquiry into
Islamophobia within the Conservative party, which was something
that he and his Chancellor promised on national television?
The Prime Minister: If the hon. Gentleman took the trouble to
read the article in question, he would see that it was a strong
liberal defence of—as he began his question by saying—everybody’s
right to wear whatever they want in this country. I speak as
somebody who is proud not only to have Muslim ancestors, but to
be related to Sikhs like him. I am also proud to say that, under
this Government, we have the most diverse Cabinet in the history
of this country. We truly reflect modern Britain. We have yet to
hear from anywhere in the Labour party any hint of apology for
the virus of antisemitism that is now rampant in its ranks. I
would like to hear that from the hon. Gentleman.
