A Labour MP challenged Boris Johnson over his racist comments and it’s brilliantly done

John Plunkett. Updated September 4th, 2019

You could be forgiven for missing this exchange from PMQs today amid all the Brexit bluster, but it really is a moment worth watching.

It’s Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi confronting the so-called prime minister on his long history of making racist and xenophobic comments. In particular, what he had to say about Muslim women in his Telegraph column a while back.

It’s compelling stuff.

MPs applaud, as Labour’s Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi tells Boris Johnson to apologise for “derogatory and racist remarks” comparing Muslim women who wear a hijab to “bank robbers and letterboxes”#PMQs updates: https://t.co/utgDYwGajI pic.twitter.com/CDMQRGJGL8

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 4, 2019

Clapping isn’t really the done thing in the House of Commons and you rarely hear it. But this was just brilliantly done and totally deserved.

Here’s just a fraction of the responses it prompted on Twitter.

Boris Johnson is a casual racist and @TanDhesi was right to call it out. The PMs response was appalling, he is appalling.

I have sat through many PMQs and this one was extraordinary. He is ridiculous and is, in my opinion brining the office of the Prime Minister into disrepute. https://t.co/TG24jBUzet

— (((Dawn Butler MP))) (@DawnButlerBrent) September 4, 2019

Absolutely superb and devastating question from my friend and colleague @TanDhesi on the Prime Minister’s Islamophobic language about Muslim women. #PMQs

— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) September 4, 2019

This is superb from Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP. It's taken decades – but finally someone has called out Johnson for his very many racist and derogatory remarks over the years. https://t.co/PqlrMAOyTY

— Otto English (@Otto_English) September 4, 2019

Proud and emotional to witness @TanDhesi hold Boris Johnson to account for his Islamophobic attack on Muslim women. The House was full of applause. We will not accept Johnson's hard-right politics of hate.pic.twitter.com/Lh6rzviHJ4

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) September 4, 2019

Powerful #PMQ from Labour’s @TanDhesi condemning Johnson’s racist article which led to an increase attacks on Muslim women.

Johnson visibly paled. His response was totally misjudged.

— Mary Creagh (@MaryCreaghMP) September 4, 2019

READ MORE

Those Boris Johnson insults in full

H/T: Indy100