Boris Johnson under fire for comparing niqab-wearing women to 'letter boxes'
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox
Get our free View from Westminster email
Boris Johnson would be barred from joining the police because of his remarks describing black people as “piccaninnies” and comparing Muslim women to “letterboxes”, the UK’s most senior counterterror officer has said.
Asked whether someone would be allowed to join a police force if they had made the same comments, Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Neil Basu said: “No, they wouldn’t be recruited into policing.”
Mr Basu would not comment on the prime minister’s remarks directly but told The Guardian: “Every public figure who’s got a microphone and has got an opportunity to speak should take the opportunity to be bringing society together.
“The most important thing everybody should be aiming for is a socially cohesive, inclusive society … we should all be very careful about what we say publicly.”
He apologised for the offence caused by a Telegraph column in which he called veiled Muslim women “ridiculous” and compared them to “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”.
Mr Basu called for renewed efforts to bring about social inclusion in Britain to combat both Islamist and right-wing extremism as the security services work to prevent new terror attacks.
He said the “deeper causes” of radicalisation must be examined to stop potential terrorists at an earlier stage and intervene before plots are hatched.
Mr Basu previously told The Independent he was concerned about growing polarisation in British society.
“You don’t have to be a genius to see how Brexit particularly has polarised some communities, and that’s got to be a concern,” he added.
“We should be really careful about what we say, we should be balanced, because there is no doubt in my mind that it has an effect.”
Of the terror suspects arrested in the year to March, 72 per cent identified themselves as British nationals or dual citizens, while 41 per cent were white, 36 per cent were Asian and 12 per cent black.
Boris Johnson has apologised for the offence caused by his remarks
Mr Javid called on all public figures to “moderate their language” but refused to criticise Mr Johnson directly when questioned by The Independent, adding: “It’s incumbent on all politicians to be careful about the language they use.”
Speaking earlier this year, he said the potential for disorder around Britain’s departure from the EU would depend on “the way prominent people with a platform conduct themselves”.
“All groups of people need to think carefully – we are in a febrile atmosphere and if you’re in a position where you know you’re going to be listened to, you need to be very careful about the language you are using so it doesn’t end up with consequences that weren’t intended,” Mr Hewitt said.
Boris Johnson fails to answer question on 'letterbox' comments towards Muslims
YouGov polling released last month suggested 56 per cent of Conservative Party members believe Islam was “generally a threat” to the British way of life, while two-thirds believed in the myth of no-go zones where “non-Muslims are not able to enter”.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.