The Labour party has been accused of “dog-whistle racism” by one of its own MPs, Navendu Mishra, after a party leaflet was distributed to Muslim voters in the constituency showing Boris Johnson with India’s nationalist prime minister, Narendra Modi, in 2019, along with the message: “Don’t risk a Tory MP who is not on your side.”
Navendu Mishra, the MP for Stockport said the “divisive” leaflet sought to turn communities against each other and exposed a “hierarchy of racism” within the party.
He added: “We beat our opponents based on policies, not by dog-whistle racism.”
He tweeted that “Labour will not win by playing divide and rule politics against our communities. We will win based on a principled stance against racism and discrimination of all kinds inside and outside the party.”
The by election in Batley and Spen is witnessing an ugly final few days of campaigning in which Labour is facing a difficult challenge from the Conservatives and former MP George Galloway.
Overthe weekend, footage emerged of the Labour candidate, Kim Leadbeater, being verbally harassed by a far-right activist and his supporters. Labour activists were also pelted with eggs, and one kicked in the head, on Sunday, according to the region’s mayor Tracy Brabin, who reported the incident to the police.
