Press Release
04 February 2020
MCB responds to Daniel Kawcyznski MP’s attendance at racist conference
The Conservative MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Daniel Kawczynski, attended a conference and spoke alongside far-right politicians from across Europe on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th February.
Buzzfeed News confirmed that Kawczynski had sought permission to attend the conference in Rome and speak alongside known Islamophobic leaders like Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Prime Minister, from the Conservative Chief Whip, Mark Spencer MP. This action by the MP, and the apparent approval by the Conservative Party, has come under widespread condemnation.
Commenting, Miqdaad Versi, Media Spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain said:
“It is unacceptable that anyone holding the position of MP speaks at a nationalist conference alongside Islamophobes and anti-Semites. It is even more disturbing that the Conservative Chief Whip appears to have known that Daniel Kawczynski MP was going to speak at a nationalist conference alongside far-right, racist politicians, and yet chose to take no action.
“This demonstrates an active tolerance for those supporting the far-right in the Party, and highlights how the “zero tolerance” approach to racism can only be seen as electioneering.
“As evidence continues to pour in, enough is enough. The EHRC must launch an independent review into Islamophobia in the Party, and look at all of its manifestations including tolerance for such hateful racism.”
ENDS