On Saturday, Nusrat Ghani, a former transport minister, said a Government whip told her that her “Muslimness” was raised as an issue when she was sacked in the 2020 reshuffle.
I know Nusrat and in 2019 we hosted a screening of a film about FGM — an issue which she, like me, is passionate about. When she became a minister, her appointment was something that was celebrated inside and outside the Muslim community, so to think her religion is the reason she was sacked is beyond depressing.
I have written before about the challenges women of colour face in politics and even though I am not a politician, I have seen first-hand the racism that exists. I am not sure what was said to Nusrat but since she came forward with her allegation, some things said and tweeted by Tory MP Michael Fabricant show that the investigation now ordered by the Prime Minister is very much needed.
The Conservatives have been the party of many firsts — female prime ministers, a female defence secretary — and they currently have one of the most diverse cabinets in the world. But that will mean nothing if, as Nusrat has asked in her statement welcoming the investigation, the terms of reference don’t go beyond the optics.
The issue of racism in Westminster goes beyond party politics. There is not one political party that can say it has addressed the issue root and branch. The Labour Party has had problems with anti-Semitism and there have been troubling reports about the treatment of its black MPs. For all parties, there are issues that need addressing — and address them we must.
It is not a sign of weakness to have an investigation that seeks to root out problematic attitudes within an organisation. Rather, that is real leadership.
We need women like Nusrat Ghani, Diane Abbott and Priti Patel in politics. But they won’t come forward until we make them feel safe.
Over the last few years, I have seen how tribalism has stopped us from working together to address things that corrode our democracy, including racism and sexism within politics. We now have an opportunity to make the change we want. If we fail to do so, we will not just be losing out on great women becoming MPs, but allow prejudice to become the norm in public life. This is something we have seen in the rise of racist hate crime, which I have written about in this paper.
I know that we as a country are better than this and I am also thankful that Nusrat, right, has taken the brave step to speak the truth as she sees it. I would like to thank her for that because I know how hard it is to speak up and hold those closest to you accountable.
In other news...
Let’s stop the fake culture war and attacks — the BBC is what makes this country great
When my birth city of Hargaysa and others in Somaliland were being shelled in the Somali civil war of the Eighties, it was the BBC that broke the news to the world.
When I travel now across the world, it’s the BBC that people look to for independent and informative news. It’s unbelievable, then, to see people seeking to drag down what others envy. Yes, the TV licence is more like a tax and not an optional fee, but because of it we get a service that is second to none.
Having lived in countries where there was no access to the full service of the BBC, I missed the reassurance and comfort of a service that is there to inform, educate and entertain without trying to sell you anything.
For just 43p a day, we get access to one of the best services in the world and we can also help to support those who do not have the privilege of the freedom and democracy we do. So let’s stop the fake culture war and attacks on the BBC because — after the Queen — it’s what makes this country great.
What do you think of the way Nusrat Ghani’s accusations have been handled? Let us know in the comments below.
