MP Rupa Huq has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation, after she was accused of making “racist” comments about Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.
The MP for Ealing Central and Acton, made the remarks about the chancellor at a Labour conference fringe event on Monday entitled “What’s Next for Labour’s Agenda on Race?”
The Conservative Party’s Chairman Jake Berry earlier condemned Ms Huq’s “vile” comments and urged Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, to remove the whip from her.
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In audio posted online by the Guido Fawkes website, Ms Huq says: “Superficially he is a black man.
“He went to Eton, I think, he went to a very expensive prep school, all the way through, the top schools in the country.
“If you hear him on the Today programme, you wouldn’t know he is black.”
In a letter to Sir Keir on Tuesday, Mr Berry said he must take action against Ms Huq.
Expressing his “serious concerns”, he wrote: “During an event organised by the British Future and Black Equity Organisation and attended by shadow secretary of state for women and equalities Anneliese Dodds, Rupa Huq made a number of racist comments about the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng.”
He continued: “Sunder Katwala, the event chair, was forced to respond to her appalling comments about the chancellor by saying his Conservative views ‘doesn’t make him not black… and I think the Labour Party has to be really careful’.
“I trust you will join me in unequivocally condemning these comments as nothing less than racist and that the Labour whip will be withdrawn from Rupa Huq as a consequence.”
In a tweet, Mr Katwala said Ms Dodds was no longer at the meeting when the criticised comments were made.
Labour and Ms Huq have been approached for comment.
Asked about Ms Huq’s remarks, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told the BBC they were “unfortunate” and that she should “stand those comments down”.
Meanwhile former Conservative cabinet minister Sajid Javid said he was “appalled and saddened” by the comments.
“Rather than give encouragement to racists and people who seek to divide us, she should know better. Not too late for her to show that she does,” he posted on social media.
