Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of “hiding” amid accusations of “racist” comments by Labor MP Rupa Huq. Ms Huq was suspended yesterday after making comments about chancellor Quasi Quarteng who were labeled as “racist”. Appearing on BBC Radio 4 this morning, Sir Keir was asked: “Can you have someone from the Labor party whose comments you have just labeled ‘racist’?”
He replied: “Well, it comes down to an independent process and that will have to decide what the outcome is.”
Presenter Martha Kearney then insisted on Sir Keir, saying: “But you are the leader of the Labor Party. Doesn’t that sound legalistic to hide behind that?”
He replied, “I don’t think it sounds legalistic to say it’s racist in my opinion.
“In my opinion, the action we took quickly yesterday to suspend the whip was completely justified.
“But now there is a process, of course there is.
“An independent process and everyone understands that.”
Speaking of Conservative Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng at an event on the fringes of the Labor Party Conference, Ms Huq had said: “On the surface, he is a black man”.
She added: “He went to Eton, I think he went to a very expensive prep school…
READ MORE: Labor MP Rupa Huq has whip suspended after ‘racist’ Kwasi rant
In response to Ms Huq’s comment, event chairperson Sunder Katwala said Mr Kwarteng’s conservative views are not “not blackening” him.
Mr Katwala added: “I think the Labor Party should be very careful”.
Conservative Party chairman Jake Berry wrote to Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday morning expressing “serious concerns” over the comments.
Mr Berry called on Mr Starmer to “unequivocally” condemn the comments by withdrawing Ms Huq’s Labor whip.
He described the comments as “appalling” and “racist”
Ms Huq, who said yesterday that she “stands behind” her comments and saw no reason to apologize, has now offered her “sincere and sincere apologies” to Mr Kwarteng.
She wrote on Twitter yesterday: “I have reached out to Kwasi Kwarteng today to offer my sincere and sincere apologies for the remarks I made at the Labor Conference fringe meeting yesterday.
“My comments were poorly judged and I offer my sincere apologies to everyone affected.”
Shadow Secretary of State David Lammy had previously urged Ms Huq to “ignore those comments”.
The Labor MP told the BBC her comments were “unfortunate”.