TORY leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has been branded an “Islamophobe” and a “threat to democracy” after her attack on progressive independent MPs.
The five MPs, four of them Muslims elected for the first time in the July general election, denounced her for “an outrageous slur.”
The former business secretary, now bidding for the votes of very right-wing Tory party members, said that she found the election of the MPs – who also include non-Muslim Jeremy Corbyn – more worrying than the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform party.
She said: “I was far more worried about the five new MPs elected on the back of sectarian Islamist politics; alien ideas that have no place here.
“The sort of politics we need to defeat and defeat quickly.”
The five MPs, who have formed a new parliamentary group, the Independents Alliance, responded: “Kemi Badenoch’s outrageous slur is an attack on democracy.
“As democratically elected MPs, we are proud to speak up on the issues that matter to our constituents, including the two-child-benefits cap, the rights of refugees and the ongoing massacre of Palestinians.
“By describing these demands as ‘sectarian Islamist politics,’ Badenoch maligns thousands of voters and peace campaigners.
“Her smear should be called out for what it is: Islamophobia.
“Last month, we witnessed horrific far-right violence across the country, fuelled by racist rhetoric from mainstream politicians.
“Kemi Badenoch’s reckless comments add fuel to the fire – and she should retract them immediately.
“We are proud to represent diverse communities – and we were elected to serve our constituents in pursuit of a more hopeful, united and peaceful society.
“We would urge Kemi Badenoch to do the same.”
Ms Badenoch was backed by shadow commons leader Chris Philp, who denounced the MPs for “appealing particularly to the Muslim community.”
Representing the more moderate wing of the party, fellow leadership contender Tom Tugendhat pledged a massive boost in arms spending as he launched his campaign today.
He said he would aim to raise the military budget to 3 per cent of gross domestic product.
Tugendhat also promised to pull Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if it stopped the government from deporting foreign criminals.
