Patel Blasts Starmer For Failing To Bury ‘Corbyn's Hateful Past'

Priti Patel yesterday condemned Sir Keir Starmer for failing to distance himself from the “racist politics” of his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

- Michael Knowles

Mr Corbyn, Leader of the Opposition from 2015 until earlier this year – was widely condemned for his handling of anti-Semitism within the party.

Ms Patel was answering a question from Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan on the topic of recent protests linked to the police killing of George Floyd in the US.

He referenced a letter to Ms Patel last week in which Labour MPs accused her of exploiting her Asian heritage to challenge the use of violence at Black Lives Matter protests.

He said that he, Ms Patel and other Conservative colleagues, “have been subject to torrents of hateful prejudice and frankly racist abuse from the Left’s legions outside, as well as in the case of my right honourable friend, sadly from sources on the benches opposite, as we refuse to conform to their prejudices.

“Does the Home Secretary agree with me that the Leader of the Opposition should condemn all these attacks and support the full weight of the law being applied equally to everyone no matter how righteous they believe their views are?”