Keir washes hands of Rupa in race row

SIR Keir Starmer seemed to wash his hands of MP Rupa Huq yesterday after he suspended her from Labour for describing Kwasi Kwarteng as ‘superficially’ black.

Miss Huq, sister of exBlue Peter host Konnie, said of the Chancellor ‘you wouldn’t know he is black’ when listening to him on the radio.

Sir Keir said: ‘She shouldn’t have said it. She will be dealt with – and I’ll be absolutely clear, it was racist.’ However, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson refused to describe Miss Huq’s comments as ‘racist’, despite being repeatedly pressed, saying only they were ‘totally wrong’.

Miss Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, pictured yesterday, has now apologised to Mr Kwarteng for her ‘illjudged’ remarks.

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