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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Sayeeda Warsi

Listen to Suella Braverman and realise: this show of diversity in our cabinet is not progress

Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman at a meeting with community and police leaders on tackling grooming gangs in Rochdale, 3 April 2023
Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman at a meeting with community and police leaders on tackling grooming gangs in Rochdale, 3 April 2023. Photograph: Phil Noble/AFP/Getty Images

Whether by incompetence or design, Suella Braverman finds herself, yet again, on the frontline of the culture wars. This time, for making sweeping statements branding British-Pakistani men, without nuance or caveats, as child sex abusers who “hold cultural values totally at odds with British values”.

Braverman’s own ethnic origin has shielded her from criticism for too long. Many people within the Conservative party have been hesitant to call out what has been staring members in the face. They struggle to hold an ethnic minority MP to account in the same way they would a white parliamentarian. This needs to change. If we are going to start to have honest conversations, let’s start by saying this – black and brown people can be racist too.

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