The Guardian's G2 section devotes three pages to a profile of Sayeeda Warsi.
"David Cameron's minister responsible for community cohesion on why she thinks the constant references to her background and ethnic origin are irrelevant."
Perhaps she should tell David Cameron, who boasted on TV that; "She is the first Muslim in a cabinet or shadow cabinet."
If Warsi's not a mere token for the Tories, she's certainly a trophy.
In the article, Decca Aitkenhead writes that Baroness Warsi is "a confident, likable, modern Muslim woman, the antithesis of a stereotypical Tory and apparently proof that David Cameron's Conservatives were no longer the nasty party."
Really?
Aitkenhead has a lot of things she wants to ask Warsi, the Minister For Community
They talked about the burka and the BNP, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, multiculturalism and immigration.
They couldn't talk about everything - even in a three page feature.
But why didn't Aitkenhead ask Warsi about her election campaign in 2005?
Her election leaflet warned; "Labour has scrapped section 28 which was introduced by the Conservatives to stop schools promoting alternative sexual lifestyles such as homosexuality to children as young as seven years old... now schools are allowed and do promote homosexuality and other alternative sexual lifestyles to your children.
"Labour reduced the age of consent for homosexuality from 18 to 16 allowing school children to be propositioned for homosexual relationships."
It was all bigoted bollocks, of course.
But she boldly promised voters; "I will campaign strongly for an end to sex education at seven years and the promotion of homosexuality that undermines family life."
Thankfully she lost - she's never won an election.
The Guardian reported at the time that "Shahid Malik, Labour's candidate, said the Tory leaflet containing the remarks about homosexuals had gone out only in Muslim parts of the constituency, while white areas got a section about immigration."
Minister for Community what?
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It's extraordinary that that Guardian profile mentions her "consummate demolition of the BNP leader" during the episode of Question Time on which they both appeared.
ReplyDeleteReading your piece, it's obvious her own election campaign in 2005 was indistinguishable from one run by any BNP candidate - ie. playing on people's fears and demonising minorities in order to win votes.
It sickens me that she is now minister for social cohesion in the same way Theresa May, who consistently voted against equal rights for gay people, is now the Minister for equality.
Why on Earth is The Guardian not highlighting any of this???