Mr Speaker, if I decide to wear a turban, or you decide
to wear a cross, or he decides to wear a kippah or a skull cap,
or she decides to wear a hijab or a burqa,
does that mean that it is open season for
right honourable 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 towel-head,
or Taliban, or coming 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.
– Hear, hear.
So rather than hide behind sham and whitewash investigations,
when will the prime minister finally apologise for his
derogatory and racist remarks which...
[applause] – Go on, Tan
– Racist remarks, Mr Speaker, which have led to a spike in hate crime
and given the increasing prevalence of such incidents within his party,
when will the prime minister finally order an enquiry into
islamophobia within the Conservative party,
something which he and his chancellor promised on national television.
[applause]
– Order. Order. Let's hear the answer. The prime minister.
[jeering]
– Order. Order. Order. The response from the prime minister will be heard.
The prime minister.
– Thank you Mr Speaker.
Now, can I just say to the honourable gentleman that
if he took the trouble to read the article in question,
he would see that it was a strong liberal defence, as he began
his question by saying, of everybody’s right to wear
whatever they want in this country.
And I speak as somebody who is not only proud
to have Muslim ancestors but to be related to Sikhs such as himself.
And I’m also proud, Mr Speaker, to say that under this government
we have the most diverse cabinet in the history
of this country and we truly reflect modern Britain.
We truly reflect modern Britain and Mr Speaker, what we have
yet to hear from anywhere in the Labour party is any hint
of apology for the virus of antisemitism that is now
rampant in their ranks.
I would like to hear that for the honourable member opposite.