KEIR Starmer was called out for his “silence” on the anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh at one of his final appearances at Prime Minister’s Questions.
The Prime Minister had addressed the attacks at the beginning of the session on Wednesday but was criticised by independent MP Shockat Adam for failing to hold national security meetings or send ministers to make statements to Parliament to address Islamophobic attacks.
The Leicester South MP said that as his children hoped for England to win the World Cup, he was “really concerned about their security in this country along with other Muslim parents”.
He added: “When a Sikh lady got raped in Walsall, the perpetrator repeatedly called her an effing Muslim bitch, whilst there was no condemnation from the minister from the despatch box, no outcry from members in this chamber who openly call out these matters when the perpetrators are of a different colour.
“When we had the Unite the Kingdom march, calling openly for the expulsion of Muslims in this country, there was no ministerial statement condemning such statements.
“When, this weekend, we had five members of the Muslim community stabbed, there was no ministerial statement or condemnation, no Cobra meeting and no solidarity. Can I ask the Prime Minister what does his silence say to my children as they wait with bated breath for Harry Kane to bring it home?”
Adam did not make the comparison but the UK Government’s response could be contrasted with its response to antisemitic attacks in London, which saw the Prime Minister convene a Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms meeting – commonly known as a “Cobra meeting”.
He also sent the then-security minister Dan Jarvis to make a statement in the Commons.
Starmer replied: “I want his children to feel safe in this country and I will do everything to make sure that they are.
“We will all fight anti-Muslim hatred with everything that we’ve got. An attack on one, is an attack on all of us. That is what I said at the top of PMQs and I hope he heard it.”
Speaking at the beginning of the session, after paying tribute to the driver killed and those injured in the train crash outside Bedford, Starmer said: “My thoughts are also with those injured in the appalling attack in Edinburgh, which appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.
“Let’s be clear, in this country an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. We will not stand for it and the perpetrator will face the full force of the law.”
Five people were injured in attacks throughout Edinburgh on Friday night. Lewis Hawkes, 36, has been charged with five counts of attempted murder linked to terrorism in connection.
He was also charged with assault and robbery, breach of the peace and culpable and reckless conduct.
Hawkes appeared in private at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday. The 36-year-old made no plea and was remanded in custody.
