Labour accused of ‘dog-whistle racism’ by one of its OWN MPs over ‘anti-Hindu’ leaflet

Labour was accused of employing ‘dog-whistle racism’ by one of its own MPs last night as the by-election campaign in Batley & Spen plumbed new depths.  

Stockport MP Navendu Mishra lashed out after the party distributing a leaflet showing Boris Johnson with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Thursday’s vote.

The campaign material criticising the PM for meeting the Hindu nationalist leader in an area of West Yorkshire with a sizable Pakistani Muslim population was also attacked by Tory MPs.

Mr Mishra, a Hindu whose parents were born in India, told the Guardian: ‘We beat our opponents based on policies, not by dog-whistle racism.’ 

The campaign to replace Tracy Brabin as the areas MP has become dogged by accusations of racism, anti-Semitism and homophobia. 

Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater defended the leaflet as she bemoaned people with their ‘own agendas and their own egos’ campaigning in her home town.

Ms Leadbeater told BBC News: ‘I don’t think it is a mistake. I think that leaflet is about human rights and it’s about having an MP who is going to speak out on the human rights issues in Kashmir.

‘And, sadly, we’ve got a Prime Minister who isn’t doing that, he isn’t challenging the Indian government around these issues. So you need someone who can, and that’s exactly what I would do.’

She said: ‘We need an MP who can represent the constituents of this area on local, national and international issues.’

Labour cried foul over a fake leaflet highlighted party leader Keir Starmer’s support for Black Lives Matter in a bid to hit his popularity among working class white voters.

The leaflet said it was from the TUC, but the union said it was part of a ‘dirty tricks campaign’ and that those responsible ‘should be ashamed of themselves’.

It came as new footage emerged showing supporters of hard Left ex-Labour MP George Galloway clashing with local councillors canvassing for Labour. 

Councillor Gwen Lowe and husband Ken were confronted on camera by an unnamed activist in Batley yesterday ahead of this week’s bitterly-fought parliamentary by-election.

An irate Mr Lowe responded by accusing members of the Galloway campaign of removing placards promoting Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater and replacing them with their own.

Mr Mishra later took to Twitter to add: ‘It saddens me to post this but racism is alive and well within Labour. 

‘A hierarchy of racism exists inside the party and some groups are seen as fair game for attacks based on religion/race/heritage. More needs to be done when it comes to be being inclusive & welcoming to all. 

‘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.’

However the Leadbeater campaign defended the Modi material, with a spokesman saying: ‘This leaflet makes it clear that a vote for anybody other than Kim would lead to a Tory MP who would support a Prime Minister who insults Muslim women and calls it a joke, refuses to deal with Islamophobia in his party, and fails to speak out on human rights abuses in Kashmir.

‘Unlike the Tories, Labour’s approach to these issues will be to always bring communities together, promote peace and put human rights first.’

But Tory MP Richard Holden said: ‘Would Keir Starmer not meet Narendra Modi? Labour are playing the identity politics they have a go at George Galloway for.’

The former Labour MP who held the seat, Tracy Brabin, who quit after being elected mayor of West Yorkshire, also claimed that activists had been pelted with eggs and kicked in the head.

Supporters of hard Left former MP George Galloway, who is standing in the election, were accused last week of using the recent fighting between Israel and Hamas in Palestine, along with the Jewish heritage of Sir Keir’s wife, to stir up anger.

Last Friday, Sir Keir condemned as ‘disgraceful’ the abuse Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater faced.

Miss Leadbeater, the sister of former MP Jo Cox who was murdered in the constituency in 2016, was confronted by a man who challenged her over the situation in Kashmir and her stance on LGBT+ education.

Miss Brabin said she was leafleting with ‘colleagues, volunteers, campaigners’ in Batley on Sunday when they ‘were followed, verbally abused and physically assaulted by a group of young men’.

West Yorkshire Police confirmed that they were investigating, and Ms Brabin – who also holds the police and crime commissioner responsibility for the region – praised officers for their swift response.

But she added: ‘We know why tensions are rising in our streets. The actions of these people do not represent the Batley and Spen I know. We are kinder than this.’

Labour MP for Halifax Holly Lynch added: ‘There has been a series of increasingly serious and violent attacks in recent days and this is absolutely unacceptable.’

In a video that circulated online on Friday, Ms Leadbeater was seen to ask the man not to shout at her, before turning away and being pursued and heckled by a group.

In the video, he raises his voice at Ms Leadbeater, who responds by repeatedly asking why he would shout at her in the street. 

Ms Leadbeater then leaves and is pursued by a group to a car.

She later alleged that opponent and former MP George Galloway, who is standing for his Workers Party, had been ‘laughing’ nearby.

Mr Galloway said it was a ‘false statement’ and, asked whether he would condemn the behaviour, he replied: ‘Absolutely.’