Sikh MP slams Boris Johnson’s ‘pathetic response’ to ‘racist remarks’ about Muslim women

'I don't really need to know about Boris Johnson's family tree.'

The MP who urged the Prime Minister to apologise for ‘racist and derogatory remarks’ about Muslim women says his response in Parliament doesn’t cut it.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi drew applause in the Commons yesterday after calling Boris Johnson out on past comments in which he likened women wearing burqas to letter boxes.

He really wasn’t impressed with Johnson’s reaction and said his Sikh and Muslim ancestry doesn’t give him ‘carte blanche’ to say what he likes.

The Labour MP has renewed his calls for the Conservative Party to begin its review into Islamophobia, as promised by Johnson during his leadership campaign.

He told Metro.co.uk: ‘He still didn’t apologise, that’s what he should have done. It’s a pathetic response.

‘His answer should have been, I apologise for my derogatory remarks, I take those back’.

He accused Johnson sidestepping his question about holding a review into Islamophobia as promised before becoming party leader.

Instead Johnson deflected with a remark about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.

The Prime Minister added: ‘If the right honourable gentleman took the trouble to read the article in question, he would see it was a strong liberal defence 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.

‘I’m also proud to say this government has the most diverse cabinet in the history of this country.’

Reflecting on yesterday’s exchange, Dhesi said: ‘He started to describe his family tree to me. I don’t really need to know about Boris Johnson’s family tree.

‘I myself have a white Scottish aunt, I’ve got Polish relatives, but that doesn’t give me a carte blanche to say anything I like or anything disparaging against Scottish or Polish people.’

Dhesi says politicians, figures in the media and other people with a lot of sway must chose their words carefully, as the impact of them can be serious.

He added: ‘He knew full well the effect that his words would have. At that point in time he was pandering to an incredibly right wing Conservative Party membership.

He pointed out a survey of party members which revealed 56 per cent saw Islam as ‘generally a threat’ to the British way of life.

Singling out ‘vulnerable’ Muslim women led to a ‘significant spike in hate crime’ which saw people having their hijabs ripped off and being pelted with eggs and tomatoes, said Dhesi.

‘He helped to normalise such disgraceful behaviour. He shouldn’t be trying to mimic Donald Trump – we in the UK have higher standards,’ he added.

‘We’ve made such great advances in the past few decades as a democratic society which is a beacon for those around the world.’

The MP for Slough says he and colleagues ‘are still waiting’ for evidence of a independent review on Islamophobia in the Tory party being underway.

However last month Party Chairman James Cleverly confirmed a review would be carried out.

Dhesi made history when he became Britain’s first turban wearing Sikh MP following the 2017 general election.

He and fellow Labour member Preet Kaur Gill are the only two Sikh MPs in the Commons.

Redbridge Council leader Jas Athwal has been nominated as Labour’s next parliamentary candidate for Illford South.

If elected he would be the first BAME MP to represent the east London constituency.

When asked how he felt about another turban wearing Sikh joining the Commons, Dhesi said: ‘It would be great to have a more diverse Parliament.

‘There’s still more work to be done. There are only two Sikh MPs, there should be at least half a dozen.’

He said this on the basis that roughly one per cent of Britain’s population of 66 million people identify as Sikh.