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Tory politician under fire for suggesting that British Muslims are foreign

Andrea Leadsom, a leading Conservative MP and leader of the House of Commons has suggested that attacks on British Muslims in the UK is a Foreign Office issue. 

Andrea Leadsom, a leading Conservative MP and leader of the House of Commons has suggested that attacks on British Muslims in the UK is a Foreign Office issue. 

Andrea Leadsom, a leading Conservative MP and leader of the House of Commons has suggested that attacks on British Muslims in the UK is a Foreign Office issue. 

After a series of suspensions from the Conservative Party for offensive posts online, Labour MP Naz Shah called on Andrea Leadsom to hold a debate in parliament on the issue of Islamophobia.

The MP for Bradford West made mention of the recent definition by the APPG on British Muslims and the report that went along with it. You can see the video here:

In her response, Ms Leadsom suggested to Ms Shah that the Foreign Office should play a role in adopting a definition.

“She raises a very important point about whether we should seek a definition of Islamophobia and I would encourage her to perhaps seek an adjournment debate in the first instance so she can discuss with Foreign Office officials,” said Ms Leadsom.

Her response, seemingly insinuating that British Muslims are foreign and hence attacks on them should be dealt with by the Foreign Office has angered many and has received a wave of criticism. A leading voice amongst Leadsom’s critics has been the former Conservative Party chair, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi:

Earlier today she penned a piece in the Evening Standard entitled, “British Muslims deserve better than a Tory party that’s deeply Islamophobic”, and today’s events in Parliament only add fuel to the fire that there is a real problem in the Tory party that isn’t being addressed!

Here are a few more responses to Ms Leadsom’s comments today:

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