The prime minister faced renewed pressure during Prime Minister Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday to apologise for the comments he made comparing Muslim women who wear a hijab to “letterboxes,” “ninjas” and “bank robbers.”
Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Labour MP for Slough said during PMQs that the prime minister “must apologise” over his “derogatory” comments.
He said, “I understand the hurt and the pain felt by Muslim women when they are called bank robbers and letterboxes, and the prime minister must apologise now for his derogatory and racist remarks which have led to a spike in hate crimes.”
Dhesi who is the first turban wearing Sikh in parliament added that members of the House who are from a minority background have been called “Taliban” and are “from bongo-bongo land.”
The Labour MP asked for Boris Johnson to apologise for his “shameful comments” and asked for an inquiry into islamophobia in the Tory Party.
“The Prime Minister and the Chancellor promised they would have an urgent inquiry into Islamophobia on television,” Dhesi said.
Johnson refused to apologise and said, “Under this Government we have the most diverse Cabinet in the history of this country.”
Trying to deflect Johnson turned on the Labour Party and said, “There has been no ounce of an apology from the Labour Party for the anti-Semitism which is deep in their ranks.”
Leave a Commment