| News release For immediate release 24th February 2024 “Withdraw the whip from Suella Braverman & Liz Truss and stop the toxic racism & Islamophobia that could lead to hatred on the streets” say anti-racist campaigners Anti-racist campaigners called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to suspend the whip from Suella Braverman and Liz Truss, following Lee Anderson’s suspension after incendiary comments regarding Mayor of London Sadiq Khan saying “Islamists” had control over him. Stand up to Racism argue that as former Home Secretary Braverman’s comments in an article in the Daily Telegraph were worse and she must also face suspension. A spokesperson said Braverman’s “inflammatory” comments, saying “The truth is that the Islamists, the extremists and the antisemites are in charge now,” seized on Sir Lindsey Hoyle’s response to his actions during the ceasefire debate, and were deliberately designed to stir up hatred and division on the streets of Britain. Braverman and Anderson’s comments followed the furore in Parliament last week, where Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsey Hoyle claimed his decision to break with Parliamentary protocol during the Gaza debate was due to the safety and security of MPs, saying he didn’t want MPs to be murdered by terrorists or another an attack on the House. Thus sparking controversy by linking calls for a Gaza ceasefire with terrorism. At the same time the Muslim Council of Britain demanded urgent action after reporting an alarming surge in Islamophobic attacks, with a staggering 335% increase and over 2000 recorded cases in the last four months, averaging around 500 per month and nearly one case every 90 minutes. Meanwhile former Prime Minister Liz Truss shared a platform with Steve Bannon, a former adviser under the Donald Trump Presidency, where she claimed “a radical Islamic party” could win the Rochdale by-election and she failed to challenge Bannon describing fascist Tommy Robinson as a “hero.” This took place during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) an event dominated by Donald Trump supporters. Robinson welcomed Truss’s comments at the event. Stand up to Racism say Robinson, a fascist, has been using the Islamophobia unleashed by Braverman since Armistice Day, to build a fascist street movement. The group is organising events to mark UN Anti-Racism Day – part of an international day of action – on Saturday 16 March in London and Glasgow and Sunday 17 March in Cardiff, to say “Stop Racism and Stop the Hate.” Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor said: “Lindsey Hoyle’s comments have been seized on by the real dangerous incendiary extremists – those in the ruling Conservative Party. Suella Braverman’s comments in the run up to Armistice Day led to a violent fascist riot by Tommy Robinson and others in central London. Braverman and Liz Truss’s recent inflammatory comments can only lead to more fascist violence, racist and Islamophobic attacks on the streets of Britain. Braverman has already demonstrated form on this and cannot be allowed to get away with this toxic hate campaign. Yet we’ve heard not a peep from the Prime Minister on Braverman and Truss. Lee Anderson has had the whip suspended. Action must be taken against Braverman and Truss. We call on Rishi Sunak to withdraw the whip.” — Stand Up To Racism is part of the World Against Racism and Fascism international coordination that is calling for mass demonstrations globally on 16 March 2024. See more here For further information & interviews please contact: SUTR OFFICE: info@standuptoracism.org.uk |