Tory candidate accused of dog-whistle tactics against rival with Indian name

Marco Longhi asked ‘voters of the British Pakistani/Kashmiri community’ if Kumar would speak for Kashmir in parliament. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA

A Conservative candidate has been criticised for sending letters to British-Pakistani voters allegedly insinuating they should vote for him instead of his Labour rival because of her Indian surname.

Marco Longhi, the Tory candidate fighting for re-election in Dudley North against Sonia Kumar, has been accused of using dog-whistle politics and attempting to “alienate British Hindus”.