“It’s time to stop the culture wars that are feeding division”
Tory House of Lords peer, Baroness Warsi, has criticised her party and some of her Conservative colleagues for their role in fueling racist and divisive rhetoric in the UK.
Warsi called for her party to have a look at its role in “feeding this culture in our country,” after Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho were all subjected to racist abuse after missing penalties for England in the Euro 2020 final.
The likes of Priti Patel have condemned the abuse despite supporting those who booed players taking the knee before the tournament began and labelling taking the knee as “gesture politics.”
In a post on Twitter addressing the Home Secretary directly, Baroness Warsi said: “Priti – we as govt, as @Conservatives need to think about our role in feeding this culture in our country.
“If we ‘whistle’ & the ‘dog’ reacts we can’t be shocked if it barks & bites. It’s time to stop the culture wars that are feeding division.
“Dog whistles win votes but destroy nations.”
Priti -we as govt, as @Conservatives need to think about our role in feeding this culture in our country
If we “whistle” & the”dog” reacts we cant be shocked if it barks &bites
It’s time to stop the culture wars that are feeding division
Dog whistles win votes but destroy nations https://t.co/wXwKKJH2eP— Sayeeda Warsi (@SayeedaWarsi) July 12, 2021
The House of Lords peer is not the only Tory to be critical of their party and note the hypocrisy of calling out racism now after some of the party’s rhetoric over recent months.
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, was supportive of England defender Tyrone Mings after he called out Priti Patel for her role in “stoking the fire” of racism before the European Championships got underway.
The MP for Plymouth Moor View quote tweeted Mings’ criticism of the Home Secretary, saying: “The painful truth is that this guy is completely right.
“Very uncomfortable with the position we Conservatives are needlessly forcing ourselves into. Do I fight it or stay silent? Modern Conservatism was always so much more to me. We must not lose our way.”
The painful truth is that this guy is completely right.
Very uncomfortable with the position we Conservatives are needlessly forcing ourselves into. Do I fight it or stay silent? Modern Conservatism was always so much more to me. We must not lose our way. https://t.co/LXle3X0WFU
— Rt Hon Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) July 12, 2021
It’s clear that there are parts of the Conservative Party that are as uncomfortable with their party’s direction at the moment as anyone else. The problem is that none of them seem to be at the top of the party or in Johnson’s cabinet.
