Tory racism row as MP claims ‘no-go areas’ in London and Birmingham

Former London minister Paul Scully sparked a contemporary Tory racism row at present after he claimed there are ‘no-go areas’ in components of the capital and Birmingham.

The Sutton and Cheam MP prompted outrage with feedback branded ‘disgusting’ and ‘Islamophobic’.

Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, additionally hit out at ‘nonsense slurs’ and urged politicians primarily based at Westminster to ‘expertise the actual world’.

It got here because the Conservatives proceed to battle a racism storm following the suspension of main ‘Red Wall’ MP Lee Anderson.

The ex-Tory deputy chairman had the Conservative whip withdrawn on the weekend for claiming London mayor Sadiq Khan was being managed by ‘Islamists’.

Mr Scully has been among the many many critics of Mr Anderson and used a radio interview at present to sentence the remarks as ‘wrong-headed’ and ‘inflammatory’.

But he added he might see what Mr Anderson was ‘attempting to drive at’ in his remarks about current pro-Palestinian protests over the Gaza disaster.

Former London minister Paul Scully sparked a contemporary Tory racism row at present after he claimed there are ‘no-go areas’ in components of the capital and Birmingham

It got here as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives proceed to battle a racism storm following the suspension of main ‘Red Wall’ MP Lee Anderson

Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, hit out at ‘nonsense slurs’ and urged politicians primarily based at Westminster to ‘expertise the actual world

Labour’s Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, described Mr Scully’s feedback as ‘utter drivel’

In a futher dialogue about whether or not the Conservatives have an issue with Islamophobia, Mr Scully advised BBC Radio London he did not just like the time period as a consequence of ‘wider connotations’ and mentioned he most well-liked to make use of ‘anti-Muslim hatred’.

Mr Scully went on to counsel individuals had ‘considerations about… their neigbourhoods altering in components of the North, particularly’ that he mentioned have been being mirrored in a ‘actually, actually clumsy means’.

‘We’ve acquired to have a smart use of language so we will have a constructive, grownup debate about this,’ he added.

Pressed on his remarks, Mr Scully then added: ‘The level I’m attempting to make is, in the event you take a look at components of Tower Hamlets, the place there are no-go areas.

‘Parts of Birmingham, Sparkhill, there are no-go areas – primarily due to doctrine, primarily due to individuals abusing in some ways their faith.

‘It’s not the doctrine of Islam to espouse what a few of these persons are saying. That is the priority that must be addressed.’

Mr Scully’s claims provoked fury amongst native politicians in Birmingham, with Mr Street posting on X: ‘The concept that Birmingham has a ‘no-go’ zone is information to me, and I think the great individuals of Sparkhill.

‘It actually is time for these in Westminster to cease the nonsense slurs and expertise the actual world. I for one am proud to guide probably the most various place in Britain.’

Labour’s Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, wrote: ‘As one of many MPs for Sparkhill I’m anticipating an apology for this utter drivel.  

‘My youngsters hand around in Sparkhill day and night time, by no means had a moments fear, I am going there weekly and reside actually 5 minutes stroll from there and used to reside there myself.’

Nicky Brennan, the Labour councillor for Sparkhill, posted: ‘I’m completely disgusted that Tory MP Paul Scully has mentioned components of Sparkhill has ‘no-go areas’.

‘There is not any place in Sparkhill that has made me really feel unsafe. Quite the other in reality. It’s a vibrant, welcoming group in Birmingham.

‘These feedback are disgusting.’

Miqdaad Versi, spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, mentioned: ‘This is extraordinarily problematic from Paul Scully.

‘Not realising ‘no-go zones’ are a typical false and Islamophobic trope from the white supremacist and far-right fringes, reveals the depth of the issue.’

A supply near Susan Hall, the Tory candidate to switch Mr Khan as London mayor, mentioned she didn’t take into account any components of the capital to be a ‘no-go space’.

Ms Hall used an article within the Evening Standard at present to hit again at Mr Anderson’s feedback about Mr Khan.

‘I could also be considered one of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s largest critics, however I additionally see the monstrous abuse he will get as one of many nation’s most outstanding Muslim politicians,’ she wrote. 

‘No one ought to need to put up with that, and I wholly condemn anybody who does it, or fuels it.

‘His religion is considered one of his constructive traits, not one thing to be suspicious of.’

Ms Hall added: ‘We ought to have fun our variety and tolerate one another when we’ve variations of opinion. That is what London has at all times been about.

‘As politicians we should all act responsibly, particularly throughout difficult occasions.’