Tory islamophobia: “Reform UK is driving them demented” | Andrew Marr | The New Statesman

From Lee Anderson’s rant against Sadiq Khan on GB News, to Liz Truss’s appearance with Steve Bannon, this week has been nothing short of a conspiratorial catastrophe for the Conservative Party.
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Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Andrew Marr and Rachel Cunliffe to discuss why Rishi Sunak and senior Conservatives are “too scared” to call out islamophobia - while Reform and GB News are “driving them a bit demented”.
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The New Statesman podcast is now on KZbin. Anoosh Chakelian and New Statesman colleagues including political editor Andrew Marr discuss the latest in UK politics news, helping you understand the forces shaping British politics today.
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[@NewStatesman]

Watch next: Are the Tories corrupt? kzbin.info/www/bejne/inW1immlgJmjqtUsi=Tjn9ljaSulQnXCKc

[@kanedNunable]

i will save you some time. yes. FFS yes.

[@geordievillan]

As if there is any need to ask this question... It's only been demonstrated on a weekly basis for the last decade and a half.

[@thejuicydollop]

You talk a lot about how sad it is that the current debate is so depressing (islamophobia and antisemitism). And yet, here you are dedicating an entire episode to these topics and other frivolous gossip-y trash. The media sets the agenda - so please focus on topics that actually impact the lives of the electorate and get out of your media bubble.

[@williamhenry8914]

@@thejuicydollop Unfortunately as long as the Tories are the party of government it's not feasible to ignore their nonsense.

[@barryhomeowner9293]

That ought to be a pretty short video. Bash out "are the Tories corrupt" and "a list of the tories' best qualities" and you can go the pub early I reckon

[@aal-e-ahmadhussain3123]

Rishi Sunak doesn’t understand the role of the public in a democracy. It’s all caught him by surprise 😂

[@JelMain]

The list of things Sunak does understand is very short indeed. How to wreck an economy. How to grin insanely. Any more?

[@hypedude6120]

How to appease the far right- the real mob

[@dirtytarquin6383]

@@hypedude6120 No he doesnt. They dont like him either.

[@douglasmacari8707]

@@dirtytarquin6383Hence, his attempts to "appease" them.

[@tommyboy87ify]

MPs should worry less about their safety and more about their competence

[@nickelmouse451]

Why not both?

[@abuyusufabdulhakim952]

@@nickelmouse451because the anger towards MPs is linked to their incompetence. Tories have screwed up the country, and Starmer is promising more the same… Why would anyone protect people who are destroying the country?

[@fyank1]

They should show some concern for their constituents for a change instead of being so self obsessed!

[@betcarbery46]

They want protection from the very situation they created themselves. They were never concerned about the population's protection. Getting their comeuppance.

[@j.harrison6744]

Yep, they're being "culturally enriched".

[@Redreynard]

Exactly. If they want Jihadi protection, so do I.

[@LuffyDaGoat]

It’s always nice to Andrew again 😀

[@jhwheuer]

You know the ship is sinking when the rats are fighting among each other. And the UK is sinking with the current leadership, attitude and expectations.

[@peterteagleteagle9958]

The tories wounds are self inflicted

[@TheJon2442]

And the stabbings in London?

[@vidiadhur]

@@TheJon2442 You don’t do coherence, do you?

[@toadmeister1964]

It's always a delight to me, during PMQs, when Titchy Rishi has to reach for the 'Emergency Jeremy Corbyn' button as early as question 2.

[@daraorourke5798]

Sunak playing with fire. Bojo did it with Ireland. Very silly and dangerous

[@greghill7759]

Can anyone explain how protesting about the slaughter of Palestinians AND Jews can be described as antisemitic? Additionally, can anyone explain how criticising the actions of Israeli government and the IDF can be described as antisemitic?

[@user-ou1pm7mj1l]

In itself it is not antisemitic. However, Israel is held up to a higher level than any other country, which initself is antisemitic. There were no same protests when the utter devastation of Yemen by Saudi Arabia and Iran took place, as 1 very recent example. Israel has lost the moral high ground, lost the media war & lost the real war, it has a right wing government which has not helped itself and Israel will be in the wilderness for many years to come. However, where the argument then leads to Israel's right to exist and zionism as nazism is antisemitic. Israel has the same rights as any other country to exist and defend itself. Palestinians have the same rights to have a state but until Iran, Russia, Saudia Arabia, Europe, America, Egypt all agree on a solution a two state solution will never exist.

[@highmillpickering2470]

No, because it isn't. But that won't stop the accusations, because it's politically expedient to do so.

[@audreymcgready4329]

No one can so far eh?.I have asked the same question so many times now. If calling that slaughtering out makes me that then ok i will wear their label. With pleasure. I will always call this out.

[@audreymcgready4329]

@@highmillpickering2470 Exactly. Tories are the mob they speak of.

[@BelaLugosie]

There is no outcry or demonstrations about mslms killing mslms in Yemen and Syria, Chinese persecution of mslms, mslms slaughtering Christians in Nigeria and Madagascar. That'a what makes criticising Israeli govt. and IDF antisemitic because of the hypocrisy. Antisemites don't like Jews and they like it even less when the Jews have thier own country. I hope that answers your question. The IDF have gone extraordinary lengths to save the lives of Gazans and the war and danger that Hamas have put them in. Hamas must be destroyed or they will continue to bombard Israel. Have a look at the Hamas Charter if you think otherwise.

[@philipclemoes9458]

Come on Andrew, far right? you know there,s no such thing. You are just propping up our TORIESLAB 1party state.

[@Matt-ou7tu]

"Most MP's go into politics because they want to help people" 😂😂😂😂

[@ANDYROBINSONFOLK]

😂

[@markcrocker8645]

Sunak is like a floundering shepherd in charge of a flock of brain-dsamaged sheep.

[@algernonwolfwhistle6351]

It's obvious to me, that Anderson is content with not having 'the whip' restored and is desperately looking for a place at Reform, where he should feel at home. The same applies to Braverman and as for Truss, she would dearly love a place at Reform but won't get one because she would damage their chances of any success with her -60 unpopularity rating.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*WERE ALL TRYING TO FIND THE GUY WHO DID THIS* says Rishi Sunak in a hot dog costume...

[@punditgi]

Sweet Anoosh! She is amazing! 😂🎉😊 And Andrew is as sharp as ever. 😊

[@nickNicholasccc]

I would suggest from observation most politicians are in politics to help themselves, hence the state of not only the UK, but the rest of the western world., Sunak, Starmer and Galloway being prime examples.

[@mauricebarnett6951]

The Castle of Lies transfered from EU Parliament to Westminster

[@johannesnicolaas]

The Tories are in final meltdown. The sinking of the Titanic was a picknick compared to this...

[@hyperbiped9913]

We are trying to make sense of chaos :)

[@b62boom1]

The Tories have spent years stoking this anger, and are now paying the price. They've made every politician unsafe through their divisive politics. This is the Tories reaping the reward for what they've done. They should be scared, as this is entirely of their own making.

[@thelostboy9884]

Divisive politics doesn't occur in homogenous societies. Diversity is not a strength.

[@PortilloMoment]

@@thelostboy9884 "Divisive politics doesn't occur in homogenous societies". What nonsense. Politics is by its very nature divisive. It always has been throughout human history with no exceptions. Diversity is what is going to wipe your arse when you're in a nursing home, or fetch your dinner when you're in hospital. It'll collect your bins, fix your house and serve you in supermarkets. If you have an issue with people who are different to you, just say so. It's embarrassing watching people tie themselves in knots trying to not say what they really think.

[@daevious_]

@@thelostboy9884 Wrong type of Divisive. Homogenous societies are insanely divisive, they'll divide themselves because they become obsessed over a normative ideal that is more fantasy than reality.

[@skymanifest8339]

Since what happened in parliament last week when Speaker Hoyle went on record to say that when making his controversial decision he was "very, very concerned about the safety of MPs and their families" then yes, politicians are "Islamophobic" in the real sense of the word. They're now fearing Islam.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

They are not in fear of Islam. They are in fear of nutty extremists.

[@samcad-ho3ze]

Fearing Islam is sane and rational, we have been brainwashed for too long…

[@pbysome]

A real fear is not a phobia.

[@nuttall47]

Go and tell the teacher in Batley that this is all a figment of his imagination.

[@jzilla1234]

I would if he existed.

[@XTRAIT-em4rx]

A very broad mind that you have there. Yes, it was disgusting admittedly.

[@superted6960]

​@@jzilla1234You serious?

[@peterclarke7240]

It's not about it being a figment of anyone's imagination, it's about whether we achieve anything when our own leaders are stirring the pot and making everything far worse. But you know that, don't you? You're just trying to do their dirty work and sow even more division.

[@richardeggett392]

Believe me he exists, but since the death threats that is all he does.

[@adam7802]

I just want to point out the fact there houses are being surrounded, they are being screamed at in the streets and they are afraid to vote for certain things in parliment shows it is being tolerated instead of being dealt with. Nobody should be playing politics over this, all parties should be united in saying this is not acceptable. Likewise the police shouldn't be allowing it!

[@fenderek666]

The reason it's happening it's because THEY made politics so toxic!!! Johnson, Braverman, Anderson, entire GB News. People want the change and they cling on burning the house down in the process. That's people realising g they have been lied to for 14 years. Not acceptable? Maybe. But clearly everybody feels there is no other way to hold them accountable anymore! That's the problem that needs addressing

[@richierich7609]

The government is complicit is genocide. Imagine if it were 1942 and the government were firmly on the side of the Germans and saying "Oh well I guess there's nothing we can do about it." and saying all the criticism was anti-German racism. What are people supposed to do, politely write letters to the editor and sit there and watch this happen?

[@tommyrotton9468]

they can't as they made it unlawful to criticise Islam and what it allows with Islamophobia policies.

[@NewEstablishment]

@@tommyrotton9468really so how come Suella hasn’t been arrested then?

[@LS-xs7sg]

Serves them right for supporting mass immigration and multiculturalism. Ethnic communalism was always going to be the result of large scale settlement from all over the world. Enoch Powell warned us about this over 50 years ago.

[@lindacurrie8817]

Yes the Tories are ace at scapegoating, divide and division. The latter causes distress, anxiety, anger then hate. The Tories have greatly underestimated this type of leadership. All actions bring about reactions and 14 years of the Tories consistently implementing policies and legislation that clearly caused the division then the reaction they have gravely caused is what we see so evidently today. Then there is Reform, GBN, Talk Talk and the press all have increased this hate. The media have journalists that will not call all the above out but go along with it. The media and citizens seem to attack the people who do try to take it on. Sunak and his speech were outrageous the Tories again play the scapegoat to deflect from themselves. Tories are well this lot are Toxic vile and extremely dangerous as is Reform. The UK is very divided in many different ways close to eating itself with hate. Never have I seen the Torie party unite the country they always cause great division What the UK requires is a political party that is going to unite the citizens, unite the union of the UK and take the citizens with them to achieve that outcome. The Tories had an 80 majority and that was the worse gift to give to the Tories they could have as the government done wonderful outcomes with that 80 majority did not turned into dictators and squandered it to line own pockets. Heinous vile Tories.

[@brianfalconer9499]

I've always thought that it would take a mighty global event to reset mankind and get us back on track as human beings. A great war or some other cataclysmic event. Then we had the pandemic and that just brought the Grifters out in greater numbers. Sad.😥

[@SuezWSuezW]

A lot of people got so frightened during the pandemic that they lost their moorings. They are off into conspiracy territory with no map, and have to blame someone else that they may have already disliked. This has happened in many previous pandemics or other natural disasters. It's troubling because we now know what causes the physical disease, but we can't fix the epidemic of mental illness and apparent trauma.

[@luke7708]

I agree with you. I hoped that things may start to shift following the pandemic as it was obvious beforehand that the way society, politics and the economy were going, a change was needed. It seems that we absolutely blew it. Humans have been excellent at adapting throughout history, so it baffles me that we were unable to do so coming out of the pandemic. It is hard to have any hope for the future.

[@ANDYROBINSONFOLK]

The reset has began. The west and the US need to make amends for their historical abuses and hope for forgiveness and a welcome into the new multi polar world order. Insrtead our useless politicians are trying to bully and intimidate and it is making us look stupid as we fail while destroying our own economies.As the Arab spring took us by surprise so has the cost of letting israel warp our political independance. We hjave known that we are the 51st state of america for decades but the true extend of Israeli meddling has landed us in a situation where genocide is being carried out in our name. Wellnot in my name Sunak and starmer.

[@audreymcgready4329]

Brought out the criminals.

[@CuriousCyclist]

How did Liz Truss go from being a Liberal Democrat to being a Trump supporter?

[@minamoo3035]

OMG hope you never have to have the baying mob outside your houses!

[@NickRothman1980]

I have. Far right neo Nazis. Lewis Goodall did a piece about it up here near Rotherham. Never heard the Tories go on about that particular mob!

[@edaleman2758]

If you don't support genocide you won't

[@skymanifest8339]

Yes, the media are hysterically jumping on Anderson's comments so they can distract us and ignore the bigger problems that they don't want to address. Namely, all the threats and intimidations politicians have been receiving.

[@ANDYROBINSONFOLK]

I do have the baying mob outside my house. It's called the Conservative party. Who is going to protect me from them kicking in my door because I want justice and peace for humanity?

[@liamcondon9254]

Normal people are very worried about immigrants from the poorer parts of the world swamping the UK.

[@connclissmann6514]

Braverman is in a safe Conservative seat, Anderson is not. Easy to see why they can drop Anderson, so.

[@johncraske]

Is there anything that's a safe Conservative seat nowadays?

[@Nice0n3]

If Sunak removes the whip from Bravermann she would no longer be a Tory member and would be unable to stand no matter how safe her seat is. She would have to stand as an independent and hope there are enough idiots in that constituency to vote for her.

[@siep6922]

Ooh you cynic!

[@michaelcoward1902]

Funny how everyone has suddenly started to get threats...all at the same time. Good job they aren't all a party of confirmed career liars or else that pattern would look really suspicious.

[@elkpaz560]

It's mostly Labour MPs who are getting the threats, I understand.

[@regarded9702]

1:30 perhaps because he isn't saying it to achieve a political win but because it is just something he believes to be true. Is that such a foreign concept?

[@S_Edward_Burns_ArtsEditor]

Political bluster has always been "real" and the outsider voters across the world matter onwards. #VotingMatters

[@speedgoat7496]

Wait MPs have to represent the people, what 😂?

[@sonyashas9347]

Liz Trust talk at CPAC her awareness of western civilisation needed guarding.

[@realhorrorshow8547]

Radon Liz is almost making a smart move for once: Making herself a new career with the loons of the MAGA-right is her best shot. She's finished in this country, but they might have her.

[@ondank]

Rishi Sunak saying that there is a mob out there is, whether true or not, ultimately most critical of the prime minister whose job it is to maintain a functional democratic society. The prime minister of course being, er ... Rishi Sunak.

[@feeamerie5011]

So good to be able to hear Andrew talk free of the Beebs restrictions. Respect

[@tommyrotton9468]

Richard Tice admitted on GBNews that he believes Islamophobia is a real complaint. He uses the Runnymede definition rather than the Labour version. Both say you can't be critical of Islam as part of the definition.

[@pauljohnson1664]

I will criticize a bad idea.

[@daraorourke5798]

Tommy Ten Names doesn't criticise Islam anymore than the nutbag loyalists criticise Catholicism. We are not dealing with theologians here but with rabble rousing mob orators.

[@JabranImran]

Paranoid accusations aren’t criticisms

[@mikedudley4062]

Islam is not a race it's a religion, and we have no blasphemy laws yet, when a small minority go around our country threatening our democracy and causing death for another ideology

[@pbysome]

Nothing lee Anderson said was paranoid.

[@ILTOMBA]

The Eton-learned rhetorical tricks don't work anymore. People want authenticity and moral consistency!

[@richmaniow]

As long as nobody's talking about the cost of living crisis the Tories are happy, plus if this plays well in the Brexit supporting former red wall seats they'll see that as a bonus..

[@cdean2789]

14 years of Tory rule 😐.

[@johnrohde5510]

Remember how one major argument used against a confirmatory referendum was that Leave voters might be angry?

[@jonathanperry4189]

Huge problems with one of Andrew's comments. That what Anderson said is widely thought but not said in polite society, but is around the pubs and clubs. No. Its the " polite society" that's doing all of this . The Idea he implied that bigotry is only in pubs and clubs is really stupid. Working people are living amongst the different groups and mostly get along. Its the "polite society " that spreads imaginary tales of something to fear .

[@paulusthewoodgnome]

Absolutely bang on. Andrew has made a bit of a Paul Scully of himself with these remarks.

[@jackdubz4247]

The biggest trick the rich white man ever pulled was in convincing the poor white man that his real enemy was the poor black/brown man.

[@IAmNotKira]

It’s not really stupid. I think you just go to different pubs and clubs that Lee Anderson types go to.

[@kloffus3]

I think there is truth in what you say. Islamophobia or fear or xislike of Muslims or "immigrants" is most common in areas where the people do not see many of the disliked group It is fear of the different and the unfamiliar, the "other" . . In areas where all races and all relogions live amonst each other there is much less fear and hatred because people can see each other as mainly just people not so vdery unlike themsilves when in comes down to basics. But as Andrew says , in some situations , as down the pub or in the club ( maybe the golf club rather than the working man's club) tribalism can grow in un-self-censored talk over a drink. among "mates" oir " people like us".

[@johnmasterson2534]

Thank you i wish there were more honest and decent journalists like you people and the nation would be served better instead of the cliant people,i would not refer to them as journalists,it would be an insult to honest people like yourselves,do continue to tell the truth .

[@billargie8040]

Honest and decent journalists 😂

[@alexpotts6520]

It's just so dumb. Sadiq Khan is the most secular Muslim you could ever meet. There are sure some British Muslims that fit the mould of Islamism (which is a theocratic political ideology, not a religious faith), but they are a minority, and I sincerely doubt that any candidate espousing such views could ever get themselves elected Mayor of London.

[@nickelmouse451]

I generally agree, but he hasn’t helped himself sharing a platform with many who are of that view

[@enemywithin1295]

I'd be very surprised if Khan wasn't actually an atheist. But unfortunately we know what happens to apostates.

[@alexpotts6520]

@@enemywithin1295 Whether he's religious or not, the important thing is that he doesn't let his religion (if he has it) inform his politics; he separates church and state.

[@enemywithin1295]

@@alexpotts6520 But that's the thing, if he is an atheist, which I'd say is most definitely the case, he's letting religion effect his politics by not letting this be known - most likely because he knows the effect it would have.

[@alexpotts6520]

@@enemywithin1295 I think this is complicated by the fact that Islam is both a faith and an identity, in a way that Christianity isn't any more.

[@andybrice2711]

I can quite easily explain why Anderson’s comments were wrong: Because they were slanderous. It is not acceptable to throw around baseless accusations that a fellow politician is actively conspiring with extremists. That said. It makes no sense to describe the comments as “racist”. Perhaps “bigoted”. But Islamism is a political movement. And Islam is a religion. Neither is a race.

[@adam7802]

The word racism lost all meaning long ago... it's just become a slur now, very rare is it used with its original meaning...

[@andybrice2711]

​@@adam7802 And that really is a retrograde step in my view. Because racism is such an unequivocally evil trait. We should not be watering down its meaning by casually conflating it with morally complicated issues like the appropriate limits of religious and political disagreement.

[@eckie4679]

@@andybrice2711spot on. The (for the large part) trumped up antisemitism card that did for Corbyn was often used interchangeably with “racism” and it worked very effectively. There’s no place for racism but calling out organised religion of whatever kind is actually a good thing.

[@andybrice2711]

​@@eckie4679 Yes, it must be acceptable to debate the relationship between religion and politics. If someone were to make the argument _"Christian theocracy has a sinister influence on politics."_ We could debate that. But it would be obviously ridiculous and nonsensical to accuse them of being _"Racist against Christians."_ Similarly, it should be permissible for people to make the argument _"Islamism is having a sinister influence on politics."_ And for us to debate that reasonably, and not have it immediately conflated with racism.

[@zarkovian]

​@@eckie4679some rare souls who actually understand the difference.

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks for posting

[@bigdaz7272]

Don't forget folks our Prime Miniature was not elected🥥🥥🥥

[@elkpaz560]

Shortphobia

[@Geffo555]

Neither was Truss. And they look about to do the same again. It's like the first class passengers on the Titanic deciding who to have as captain. And demanding a closer look at the iceberg.

[@anthonysullivan3238]

wretched culture wars - here here - Andrew

[@khar12d8]

Liz Truss has completely lost the plot.

[@thelostboy9884]

She never had the plot. Watch her performance when she was a LibDem. Bonkers.

[@DavidRandall2020]

Basically agreed ith everyting said, except Andrew's final comment that there is absoutely no money in the coffers. There is a tremendous amount of money sloshing away in bank and energy company profits which remains untaxed and unfairly perpetuates inequality in society. Rich getting richer. Poor getting poorer, because of the way that finance is geared in favour of corporations. This has to be fixed.

[@alanrobertson9790]

About a third of the people pay most of the tax and another third make no contribution or net beneficiaries. The system far from unfairly perpetuating inequality in society is redistributive.

[@Tzhz]

We are sat on a lot oil we aren't using due to eco extremists, it would fund the move to nuclear.

[@ricardosmythe2548]

​@@alanrobertson9790trickle down economics doesn't exist in the UK today. Around 1-5% of people have been allowed to suck up wealth from everyone else. While the system that promotes inequality remains which has been shaped through influence and lobbying the percentage of taxes paid from the top will also have to increase. You can only tax what people have. The fact such a small number of people pay so much of the tax taken and the fact it works out to such a small proportion of there overall income and wealth in comparison to normal people should ring alarm bells for any logical thinking individual.

[@alanrobertson9790]

@@ricardosmythe2548 "You can only tax what people have" Precisely. With most of the tax being paid by a minority of people the idea that an increasing minority of people, currently about a third, can have a better living by increasing taxes on people who already pay most of the taxes isn't going to work. You have to break out from the parasite model of society and concentrate on how you can get people to be self-sufficient. Train people to do useful things would be my emphasis. Instead socialists vent their venom on the people who pay for everybody else. If you get rid of them you really are *******!

[@ricardosmythe2548]

@@alanrobertson9790 I'm certainly not a socialist. I'm a capitalist firmly against the crony capitalist system that's been built through lobbying and over regulation that strangles this country its people and its potential.

[@michellebarbour5777]

Thinking about the horrors that face a next Government, would N.S. be willing to look at countries that embrace young, fit asylum seekers to make up for the increasing low birth rate like New Zealand ( great plans), South Korea (looking worrying for them) and the U.K choices? Is this a way that the U.K could solve Social Care problems - A- with training schemes and B- with tax paying young people to help with our depleting coffers? Any debate on this by you would be so welcome.

[@tdm8722]

Kiwi here, big concerns over immigration numbers in NZ. Some of the least affordable houses in the OECD, poor infrastructure and weak growth. We don't quite know how to increase standards of living without inflation, we are kind of hooked on it. But, I would say most of our social problems are homegrown as opposed to immigrants causing issues. Also our aslyum/refugee rates are very low per capita. Not sure we have great plans for where immigration/ population is going in general.

[@GG-hu9dn]

Present tory sect are demented?! :-((

[@roriejackson4106]

Another very informative podcast, thanks Anoosh

[@JelMain]

You can't drive them demented. They've been insane for years.

[@RuneRelic]

So I take it you are defending the grooming gangs and the atrocities ?

[@siep6922]

Who are you to bring in the Catholic Church like that?

[@RuneRelic]

@@siep6922 Oof!

[@TimesFM4532]

Humm sunak who's the pm which has lost control

[@Beranovec]

"...Driving them all a bit demented. And will come onto liz truss..." haha

[@1701_FyldeFlyer]

Why is criticising radical Islam 'Islamophobia' but criticising Israel isnt anti semetism according to these characters?

[@elkpaz560]

Islam is a belief system, Israel is a nation state.

[@khar12d8]

An awful lot of people in this country, including on parts of the secular left, are concerned about Islam.

[@Jessjoe1956]

The Conservatives disgust me more every day. I hope and pray for a Labour government to take our country in a different direction than this dark, dangerous path we are currently heading down.

[@thelostboy9884]

Diversity is division.

[@witlesswonderthe2nd883]

Well don’t hold your breathe as it will be far darker with Labour at the helm. The answer is no I don’t vote Tory either as both parties are despicable chancers

[@maharencall3219]

If there are solid reasons for a fear, it's not a phobia

[@BOBBOBBOBBOBBOBBOB69]

Who is threatening the MPs....

[@lasttango7522]

Just been announced the UK is on the highest terror threat since 9/11. And you ask the most ignorant question of the year. Durrr

[@lesliedellow1533]

How can you drive demented somebody who is already there?

[@danielclemence3689]

Love Andrew Marr, but he is a tiny bit out of touch with the harsh realities of what happens in the UK on the street. He obviously lives a sheltered life and doesn't see what the "working classes" see. Some areas are grim and absolutely are under Islamic rule. And in some respects, a lot of London is. So, let's not be in denial.

[@andrewrose7800]

Thank you for this wholly independent view.

[@elkpaz560]

independent of the real world

[@peterpearson1675]

In practice islamofobia does not mean hatred of islam but fear of islam.

[@christopherplunkett6118]

His comments were what the majority of the public are thinking.

[@1701enter]

And aren't we all so sick of “Party Politics” and want to sort out the Country's woes instead! Oh wait! its the Party Politics that are the cause of all this B/S in the first place

[@existentialvoid]

I am getting emails from Jewish friends in London who are packing to leave. While I am not sure about the Islamophobia claim - I can say that open and often violent anti-semitism is a reality too. And now with Galloway back in Parliament. . . there is going to more of this. So if you are going to call people out as Islamophobic - then the anti-Semitism also need to be fought.

[@thelostboy9884]

Meanwhile, the majority of victims of religious terrorism, inter-racial violence, and crime are white British people. Remember those?

[@user-vp2lz4qu5v]

Who care

[@j.harrison6744]

So we're just going to ignore how a significant number of the members of Parliament were threatened, along with their families? Islamophobia literally, means a fear of Islam. So getting de@th threats from Muslims and being fearful, seems a rational response to me.

[@b62boom1]

A phobia is an irrational fear, which Islamaphobia is.

[@piccalillipit9211]

"we're just going to ignore how a significant number of the members of Parliament were threatened," YES - UNTIL I SEE PROOF I WILL IGNORE IT Because it nicely fits the government narrative of banning protests. Remember "WMD's". ????

[@michaelcoward1902]

Assuming they are telling the truth...a big assumption these days.

[@Beyonder1987]

Threatened? In this day and age of social media, everyone is threatening everyone. Former labour leader Corbyn had the most threats of any MP in modern British politics especially by extreme right wingers

[@oscarmike3482]

They've been letting them all in for the past 20+ years. Many of whom are from countries that don't subscribe to our polite sensibilities of not killing people who disagree with you.

[@mikecook1537]

We need a true conservative leader.

[@nojamieleedonttouchmyyoutube]

We need a different government .

[@mikecook1537]

@@nojamieleedonttouchmyyoutube I agree. It's so frustrating as we don't have a true conservative government with low taxes.

[@asadraja1166]

Sensible discussion

[@Galxoor91]

Without free media like this politician's laying tactics would have confuse lot of people about what's being true likely social media platforms are exposing them instantly.

[@ianbath4776]

Instead of chatting about nothing, get to the bare bones of our country’s problems. Equality,prosperity, corruption in politics and jernalisam.

[@davidnettleton7084]

Dictionaries at 10 paces. Is there a one-word which identifies people like me who have never owned a car? It's the last allowed term of abuse.

[@kevoreilly6557]

Seems a little pedestrian to me

[@elainekerslake6865]

Shanksies Pony.

[@robertdennis3114]

Carless😅

[@cdean2789]

On your bike son. 🙂.

[@nojamieleedonttouchmyyoutube]

I haven't either. Love public transport.

[@johnbekoe2973]

Sunak and his party are pathetic

[@TonyLing]

A phobia is an irrational fear. A criticism of Islam is not racist as Islam is not a race. A criticism of Islam is not blasphemy, at least not quite yet.

[@Sat-Man-Alpha]

The UK is going down and there is no end in sight…..😂

[@colinwhite5355]

I sell to the public - they visit my premises. It’s marked, just how openly, now, people feel at liberty to make anti immigrant/anti Islam and generally racist remarks. It’s become the norm.

[@selfpreservationsociety]

How middle class and boring, working class united

[@pauljosephbuggle3722]

Tactical racism is hardly a vote winner. The racist vote isn't something a decent party should be seeking.

[@sacredgeometry]

Stop assuming its racist.

[@vidiadhur]

@@sacredgeometryIt’s very much racist. And the Tories are desperate enough to ride the tiger of racism if they think it will win them an election or reduce the margin of their defeat.

[@JoeWedgwood-ik9zo]

Don’t worry it’ll be the unemployed next week once this gains no traction for sunak…

[@daydreamer-ix2bo]

Andy's a chameleon.

[@tomthumb2361]

Are Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman's Hindu antecedents relevant to current intercommunity tensions? It's rumoured that London Hindus don't support Mr Khan at least in part on religious grounds.Our ruling class is a caste into which Hindus seem to fit much more easily than people like me from a northern nonconformist background or people like Mr Khan or even Mr Javid. I certainly feel more affinity with these last two than I do with Sunak, Braverman etc al. Burke argued for keeping the caste system intact in order to recruit its top layers in the business of keeping order in the subcontinent.

[@Envexitytg]

RUBBISH T R. BEING CONVICTED OF SOMETHING DOES NOT MAKE YOU A CRIMINAL .. contempt of court and a statement of fact .. silly trumped up charges ..the JUDGE did not care about the evidence ..and convicted him anyway

[@andrewbrinkman6967]

these people are completely irrelevant ... why bother with them?

[@colinm1082]

Speaking the truth about the country. It’s fine for most of you on private medical and dental plans.

[@BOBBOBBOBBOBBOBBOB69]

Not as afraid for Andrew Marr to call out Rape Gangs.

[@grizw0ld]

Chakelian, Cunliffe and Marr - top of the tree for incisive analysis and comment.

[@Teasehirt]

Conservatives should pay more attention to protect our children.

[@edaleman2758]

And Palestinian children

[@Teasehirt]

@@edaleman2758 Palestine and Isrealie need to protected but that is not the primary function of the UK. Take your argument else where.

[@edwardhoulton8725]

What utter garbage, and it’s only been going for a few moments.

[@fang_xianfu]

12:08 "Giving Sunak the opportunity to use an attack that he really likes to use, and to make it relevant" - and completely taking the wind out of the sails of that attack, since Starmer's point was "I did something about that, what are you going to do?"

[@tadget0566]

So we attack the messenger but not the message if he’s wrong make the argument the old thing shut them down call them racist is no longer work. The Mayor of London has some strange friends

[@musicman5075]

The other reason Starmer was prepared to invite the Corbyn response is that it highlights the difference between his Labour party and Sunak's conservatives. Starmer has kicked Corbyn out of the party but Braverman, Truss, Jenrick et al still remain in the tory party

[@Beyonder1987]

This just goes to show that Labour has more or less dealt with or perceived to have dealt with Anti semitism in its ranks but Conservatives refuse to deal with Islamaphobic in its ranks

[@lasttango7522]

​@@Beyonder1987😅😅😅😅😅

[@jimbanda]

Aaaamm, they are too scared to call out Islam because they are scared for their lives, they are being threatened with terror attacks on their lives. It not just a fear of being criticised.

[@Teasehirt]

About time the Concervative came clean about Tommy Robinson most of his concerns regarding women and children safety have come to light.

[@daraorourke5798]

Who is he assaulting now?

[@b62boom1]

I'm concerned about the safety of women and children around Tommy Shitfingers, because of his record of violence against women, and turning his mob on a kid that ended up sueing violent little Tommy and winning. The only cases Tommy Shitfingers got involved with were ones already being investigated. He almost got an entire grooming gang off because of what he did. I won't mention his thing for young girls...

[@abenaid11]

"Mob Rule" is down to the lack of police over the last 20 odd years.

[@grahamcook9289]

Has Englandaphobia time's come?

[@gothicpagan.666]

Democracy and mob rule🤔 Who represents which group?