Home Secretary Condemns Far-Right Protesters As 'Heirs To P***-Bashers'

Shabana Mahmood has called some of the protesters at Tommy Robinson’s recent rally “heirs to the skinheads and P***-bashers of old”.

In her main speech at the Labour Party conference, the home secretary – who is of Pakistani descent – also warned that patriotism risks “turning into something smaller – more like ethno-nationalism”.

Earlier this month, more than 100,000 people marched behind far-right activist Robinson – a convicted criminal and a former BNP member – in the “Unite the Kingdom” rally, which was marred by violent scenes.

Addressing Labour delegates in Liverpool today, Mahmood said: “While not everyone was violent, some were. Twenty-six police officers were injured as they tried to keep the peace.

“While not everyone chanted racist slogans, some did, clear that in their view of this country, I have no place. 

“It would be easy to dismiss this as nothing but an angry minority – heirs to the skinheads and Paki-bashers of old – and make no mistake, some were.”

But, she also made it clear their behaviour was symptomatic of something more menacing happening across the UK.

Mahmood said: “Patriotism, a force for good, is turning into something smaller.

“Something more like ethno-nationalism, which struggles to accept that someone who looks like me, and has a faith like mine, can truly be English or British.”

However, the home secretary also suggested there are valid fears about small boat crossings which must be addressed – or voters will turn to Reform.

“Working-class communities will turn away from us – the party that for over 100 years has been their party – and seek solace in the false promises of Farage,” Mahmood said. 

“They will turn towards something smaller, something narrower, something less welcoming.

“And the division within this country will grow.”

She concluded: “Our challenge now is to fight for our vision of this country and, in doing so, to hold it together.”