Tory MP candidate apologises for telling Sikh rival he is 'talking through his turban'

Labour says Philip Dunne should be sacked as a Conservative candidate

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Thursday 28 November 2019 12:34 GMT
Comments

A former Tory minister has been forced to apologise after telling his Sikh rival he was "talking through his turban" during an election debate.

Labour has called for Philip Dunne to be sacked as a Conservative candidate in the upcoming poll over "disgusting, racist" remarks to opponent Kuldip Sahota at a hustings in his Ludlow constituency on Wednesday.

Mr Sahota said the comments were reminiscent of the kind of racism he suffered in the 1970s and called for a probe into Mr Dunne, who previously held frontbench roles in health and defence.

The Labour candidate said: “I was shocked and deeply hurt that someone who was an MP for 14 years would make such a derogatory comment about the Sikh faith. This is extremely insulting to the Sikh community.

“These are the kind of offensive comments I remember receiving in the 1970s. They have no place in modern Britain and they certainly have no place in our parliament.

“I hope the Conservatives will investigate this matter immediately.”

In response to the outcry, Mr Dunne issued a statement apologising for his remarks.

He said: “I apologised to Kuldip Sahota for my comments last night. I apologise again unreservedly for the offence caused.”

However Labour's Tan Dhesi said he should be suspended and accused the Tories of "condoning blatant racism".

Mr Dhesi, who condemned Boris Johnson in the Commons over racist language, said: “This disgusting, racist remark wasn’t just made by a Conservative Parliamentary candidate, it was made by someone who was a Conservative MP for 14 years, who has served as a minister in several Conservative governments, and this year was even given an honour by the Conservative leadership.

“He is not a random candidate in an unwinnable seat. He is a senior Conservative figure who could be re-elected.

“This attack on the turban, which we consider a crown, is an attack on the entire Sikh community, who fought and died for Britain wearing those same turbans.

“The Conservatives must suspend him immediately and strip him of his honour. Anything less than that will be condoning blatant racism.”

Bhai Amrik Singh, chair of the Sikh Federation, said: "This is nothing less than blatant racism, but we have complete silence from the Conservative Party leadership.”

“Mainstream political parties and all religious leaders have a collective duty to stamp out all forms of racism irrespective of the perpetrator or victim and leave those making offensive comments in no doubt that their behaviour is unacceptable and take firm action against those peddling hate.”

It comes amid a fresh row over Islamophobia in Tory ranks after the Muslim Council of Britain accused the party of having a "blind spot" to anti-Muslim hate.

The Scottish Conservatives also suspended their candidate in Glasgow Central over allegations of Islamophobia in private phone calls, which were sent to party officials.

Boris Johnson was personally accused of stirring up racism in old newspaper articles during a live television debate.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in