Keir Starmer condemns ‘racism and intolerance that is permeating everywhere’

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned growing racism and intolerance in the UK, saying that it is ‘permeating everywhere’ and is ‘tearing society apart’.

He made the comments during PMQs earlier this afternoon, following a question from Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who asked the Prime Minister to condemn anybody stoking racism in the country.

Davey said: “The rising tide of racist violence and hate that we’re seeing in our country and the way that it is being incited and normalised, including I’m afraid by some members of this house.”

He highlighted an incident in which a British friend of Indian ancestry was told by Reform activists when canvassing that if they get into power, the family would have their passports seized and citizenship revoked.

Starmer replied: “Our politics is becoming more divisive and racism and intolerance is permeating everywhere and we have to deal with it because it’s tearing our societies apart, it is keeping good people away from politics because they don’t want to be involved in it and it should be called out by every single person who’s a politician at any level in this country.”

He mentioned how it had now been 10 years since the horrific murder of Jo Cox and added that since then sadly things had got worse.

“That’s on us to fix, all of us to fix, every single member of this house whatever their party is and anybody who flames it should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.”

It comes after racist rioting broke out in Belfast following a knife attack last month, with minorities having their houses and properties targeted.

Others such as Rupert Lowe of Restore have called for mass deportations, while Farage has used inflammatory language and was accused of stoking riots after the murder of Henry Nowak by calling for ‘pure cold rage’ and claiming that there was anti-white prejudice in policing.