In an interview with the Timeslast week, former Tory cabinet member Sajid Javid called on Reform leader Nigel Farage to apologise for extreme racist comments he made back during his school days.
Now, we at the Canaryhave rarely found ourselves sharing common ground with Javid. However, let it never be said that we ignore our opponents when they make a valid point. Prominent politicians should definitely apologise for their past racism – it’s the very least they can do.
On the subject of Farage, Javid commented:
He could well be a totally different person today. But to demonstrate you are a different person, it starts with an apology and he hasn’t done that yet. That’s what disturbs me.
We’d absolutely love to see Farage make a public apology for reportedly growling “Hitler was right” and “gas them” at Jewish classmates. If, after doing so, the Reform leader could resign in disgrace, that’d be just great.
However, while we’re on the subject, turnabout is fair play – by our count, Javid has some apologising of his own to do. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Farage AND Javid have some apologising to do
Javid has spoken frequently about his humble beginnings, born to a Pakistani Muslim immigrant family in Rochdale. He then rose through the ranks of Conservative politics, using his background as a vantage point to criticise brown people for failing to integrate, or for pointing out government racism.
Back in 2016,the then-communities secretary criticised immigrant communities for failing to embrace the shared values of the UK:
For too long, too many people in this country have been living parallel lives – refusing to integrate and failing to embrace the shared values that make Britain great.
And for too long, too many politicians in this country have refused to deal with the problem.
They’ve ducked the issue for fear of being called a racist, failing the very people they’re supposed to be helping and I will not allow this to continue.
We don’t know, Javid. Maybe immigrant communities have a hard time integrating because of the racism they experience – just like you did.
Back in 2018, Javid became the UK’s first ethnic-minority home secretary. He attempted to re-name Teresa May’s “hostile environment” immigration policy as a “compliant environment”. However, beneath this cosmetic change, he continued to execute the same old racist Tory policies.
Likewise, the ex-Tory cabinet member also over-inflated his achievements in the Timesinterview last week:
He also tells me a couple of things that aren’t accurate — that he was the first non-white cabinet minister in British history, which will surprise Paul Boateng, Valerie Amos and Sayeeda Warsi, and that he banned FGM, which was criminalised in 1985.
One of these things is not like the other
How’s about something actually did do, instead? In 2019, the then-home secretary gave a speech lumping CAGE in with Britain First:
Extreme views can be found on all sides of the spectrum, from Islamist organisations like Hizb u-Tahrir and IHRC, to far right groups like Britain First and Generation Identity.
And those that spread intolerance and division from all corners are often given a platform by media and political figures.
Supposedly mainstream groups can be guilty of that too – groups like MEND. They aren’t always as intolerant of intolerance as they may claim to be.
One of the most prominent organisations that rejects our shared values is called CAGE.
When challenged they claim the Government is anti-Muslim.
As a reminder, CAGE was one of the first organisations to call out the UK’s counter-terror strategy – Prevent – for its vile Islamophobia. But sure, they’re definitely the same as a bunch of jackbooted racist thugs.
Or how’s about in 2020, when Javid – recently resigned as chancellor – started bagging on the Black Lives Matter movement:
I distinguish between the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for racial justice.
I’m not sympathetic to the actual organisation, Black Lives Matter. I think it’s a sort of neo-Marxist organisation that wants to overthrow capitalism and get rid of the police.
I think the organisation itself is not a force for good.
Yeah, Black Lives Matter weren’t fans of cops. However, given that they were highlighting how racist the fucking cops are, that’s probably to be expected.
Apologies all round
So, yes – we at the Canarywould love to watch Farage apologise for all the times he’s been a racist little asswipe. Though, of course, it’d probably take a good long time.
But saying that, we’d also like to hear an apology from Javid while we’re at it. He can apologise to CAGE, and BLM, and all the victims of racism who failed to adopt the values of their oppressors. Oh, and don’t worry – we can wait all day.
Featured image via the Canary
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