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Government sacks Roger Scruton after remarks about Soros and Islamophobia Government sacks Roger Scruton after remarks about Soros and Islamophobia
(32 minutes later)
The government has sacked its housing adviser Roger Scruton after he appeared to repeat antisemitic statements and denied Islamophobia was a problem.The government has sacked its housing adviser Roger Scruton after he appeared to repeat antisemitic statements and denied Islamophobia was a problem.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing said: “Professor Sir Roger Scruton has been dismissed as chairman of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission with immediate effect, following his unacceptable comments.” A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing said: “Professor Sir Roger Scruton has been dismissed as chairman of the Building Better, Building Beautiful commission with immediate effect, following his unacceptable comments.”
In an interview for the New Statesman, the rightwing philosopher was unrepentant about his controversial views about George Soros, the Hungarian-American philanthropist, who is frequently cited in antisemitic conspiracy theories and attacked by Hungary’s rightwing prime minister Viktor Orbán.In an interview for the New Statesman, the rightwing philosopher was unrepentant about his controversial views about George Soros, the Hungarian-American philanthropist, who is frequently cited in antisemitic conspiracy theories and attacked by Hungary’s rightwing prime minister Viktor Orbán.
“Anybody who doesn’t think that there’s a Soros empire in Hungary has not observed the facts,” Scruton told the magazine.“Anybody who doesn’t think that there’s a Soros empire in Hungary has not observed the facts,” Scruton told the magazine.
Scruton, who has been a friend of Orbàn for more than 30 years, denied that he was antisemitic or Islamophobic. He said Islamophobia was “invented by the Muslim Brotherhood in order to stop discussion of a major issue”. Scruton, who has been a friend of Orbán for more than 30 years, denied that he was antisemitic or Islamophobic. He said Islamophobia was “invented by the Muslim Brotherhood in order to stop discussion of a major issue”.
Scruton’s sacking comes after Labour led widespread calls for his dismissal. Scruton also said: “Hungarians were extremely alarmed by the sudden invasion of huge tribes of Muslims”, and accused the Chinese of “creating robots out of their own people”.
His comments came at an especially awkward time for the Conservative as the party has been coming under increasing scrutiny over its stance on Islamophobia while continue to attack Labour for antisemitism. Scruton’s sacking comes after Labour-led calls for his dismissal.
His comments came at an especially awkward time for the Conservatives as the party has been coming under increasing scrutiny over its stance on Islamophobia while continuing to attack Labour for antisemitism.
Last month the party suspended 14 members for allegedly making Islamophobic comments after a string of abusive posts were uncovered on social media.Last month the party suspended 14 members for allegedly making Islamophobic comments after a string of abusive posts were uncovered on social media.
Earlier the ministry said: “It’s very clear from the interview Professor Sir Roger Scruton is not speaking for the government.” Theresa May’s spokeswoman said the housing minister James Brokenshire had sacked Scruton in a phone call. She said: “These comments are deeply offensive and completely unacceptable, and it is right that he has been dismissed.”
Asked why Scruton had been given the unpaid role in the first place, given earlier similar comments, the spokeswoman said: “He was appointed because of his expertise in the built environment. His comments are clearly distracting from the important work of the commission and so it no longer right for him to act as a government adviser.”
Earlier, the ministry said: “It’s very clear from the interview Professor Sir Roger Scruton is not speaking for the government.”
Would you trust Roger Scruton to design your new home?Would you trust Roger Scruton to design your new home?
The interview prompted Labour to repeat its call from five months ago for Scruton to be sacked after it first after it first emerged that he had described Jews in Budapest as forming part of a “Soros empire”. The interview prompted Labour to repeat its call from five months ago for Scruton to be sacked after it first emerged that he had described Jews in Budapest as part of a “Soros empire”.
Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities secretary, said Scruton’s new comments were “despicable and invoke the language of white supremacists”.Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities secretary, said Scruton’s new comments were “despicable and invoke the language of white supremacists”.
She added: “His claim that Islamophobia does not exist, a few weeks after the devastating attack in Christchurch, is extremely dangerous, and his defence of the prejudice stoked by Viktor Orbán’s government in Hungary is appalling.”She added: “His claim that Islamophobia does not exist, a few weeks after the devastating attack in Christchurch, is extremely dangerous, and his defence of the prejudice stoked by Viktor Orbán’s government in Hungary is appalling.”
When Labour first called for Scruton’s dismissal, the housing secretary, James Brokenshire, defended him as a “champion of freedom of speech”. He said: “He is one of the most qualified people in this particular field, so I am pleased that he has accepted that role. As a public intellectual of renown and author of over 50 books, as well as countless articles and public lectures, Sir Roger is engaged in a variety of topics, often expressing – yes – strong and controversial views.” When Labour first called for Scruton’s dismissal, Brokenshire defended him as a “champion of freedom of speech”. He said: “He is one of the most qualified people in this particular field, so I am pleased that he has accepted that role. As a public intellectual of renown and author of over 50 books, as well as countless articles and public lectures, Sir Roger is engaged in a variety of topics, often expressing – yes – strong and controversial views.”
Butler had said Scruton should never have been appointed. “Theresa May must sack Roger Scruton immediately,” she said. “If she doesn’t, it will be further evidence that she is turning a blind eye to the deep-rooted prejudices and racist views in the Conservative party, and will again signal that her government endorses these disgusting views.”Butler had said Scruton should never have been appointed. “Theresa May must sack Roger Scruton immediately,” she said. “If she doesn’t, it will be further evidence that she is turning a blind eye to the deep-rooted prejudices and racist views in the Conservative party, and will again signal that her government endorses these disgusting views.”
The former Tory chancellor George Osborne, now editor of London’s Evening Standard, tweeted that he could not see how Scruton could keep his job. Tell Mama, the anti-bigotry campaign, welcomed Scruton’s dismissal but raised questions about why he was appointed in the first place.
Yesterday, leading Conservatives rightly ask what they can do to reconnect to modern Britain. Today, these bigoted remarks from the man they bizarrely appointed to advise them on housing. How can Downing Street possibly keep Roger Scruton as a government adviser? https://t.co/MCSrUSW456 Its director, Iman Atta, said: “Such dehumanising language falls far below the standards of those who advise government and undermine the struggle against Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred, antisemitism and racism. Concerns were raised about Scruton’s opinion on homosexuality and Islamophobia before his appointment and that shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Tory MP Tom Tugendhat also backed Labour’s call for Scruton’s sacking, saying antisemitism and Islamophobia had “no place in our public life and particularly not in government”. Tory MPs including Tom Tugendhat and Johnny Mercer had joined calls for Scruton’s dismissal.
NEW: Tory MP Tom Tugendhat tells BuzzFeed News Roger Scruton should be sacked as a govt adviser:“Antisemitism sits alongside racism, anti-Islam, homophobia, and sexism as a cretinous and divisive belief that has no place in our public life and particularly not in government.”
A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: “As the Conservative party faces its latest crisis on Islamophobia, it cannot continue with false promises to take the issue seriously whilst retaining people such as Mr Scruton as a government adviser. The reality is that these concerns will continue to recur until trust is rebuilt through – in part – an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the party.”A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said: “As the Conservative party faces its latest crisis on Islamophobia, it cannot continue with false promises to take the issue seriously whilst retaining people such as Mr Scruton as a government adviser. The reality is that these concerns will continue to recur until trust is rebuilt through – in part – an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the party.”
Politics
Roger ScrutonRoger Scruton
New Statesman Conservatives
Antisemitism
HousingHousing
IslamophobiaIslamophobia
George SorosGeorge Soros
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