Mayor Sadiq Khan used last night’s British Kebab Awards to restate his anger at anti-Muslim bigotry and other prejudice. It follows a tumultuous few days in which Conservative MP Lee Anderson was suspended for saying “Islamists” have “got control” of the Mayor, who is a Muslim.
“Responsible politicians know that, at a time when emotions are understandably running higher, we should seek to turn down the temperature and unite,” Khan said at the gathering of over a thousand UK kebab businesses. “Responsible politicians should know that racism should be countered and condemned everywhere,” he added, with great emphasis on the word responsible.
The annual awards event, which took place yesterday at Park Plaza Westminster, is one of the most popular events in the Westminster social calendar, no doubt thanks to the freely flowing booze and delicious food. "The diversity in kebab shops is a source of pride, progress and prosperity,” said Khan.
It is also a chance for kebab businesses to lobby politicians about the issues they care about. Flattery was the order of the evening when the kebab businesses in attendance were polled on which politician they would most like to share a meal with. 53 per cent voted for Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader widely expected to win the next election. It was something of a snub for prime minister Rishi Sunak, who was a no-show at last night’s event. Mayor Khan got 12% of the vote.
Other politicians took to the stage to make speeches. Former Tory chancellor Nadhim Zahawi told the assembled guests that Brexit was the thank for better kebabs. "We can thank our cheap lamb kebabs on our new trade deal with New Zealand,” he said, “without it, the lamb doner could have been a goner!"
Labour’s shadow Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell also tried a political joke, with less success. “I’m surprised the Conservative party aren't up for an award tonight because they're just so good at skewering... themselves,” she wisecracked, to a flurry of boos from the audience. She also promised that Labour would help kebab shops by reforming business rates if they get into government.
British Kebab Awards founder Ibrahim Dogus summed up the evening with an appropriate comment: "recently we have had the Baftas, but finally we have the Kebaftas."
