MP faces chief whip after ‘mixing up’ Asian ministers
THE Conservative Party’s chief whip has summoned an MP for a dressingdown after he said two Cabinet ministers of Asian heritage “look the same”.
James Gray denied that his remarks were racist after he told an event that he confused Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary with Nadhim Zahawi, the Education Secretary.
After getting the two men mixed up when introducing them at an event in Parliament, he reportedly said: “They all look the same to me.”
He denies using that phrase but admits he mistook one for the other.
Those present at the event pointed out that Mr Zahawi, whose parents are Iraqi, has a white beard while Mr Javid, whose parents are Pakistani immigrants, is clean-shaven.
A Conservative spokesman said the comments were “misjudged” and the party “does not tolerate racism or discrimination of any kind”.
The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Gray was summoned by Mark Spencer for a telling-off and reminder of the standards expected of an MP.
He is not expected to face any further disciplinary action but Tory frontbenchers have privately grumbled about his comments and expressed their hope that he would step down at the next election.
One minister described Mr Gray as a “Bufton Tufton old-school Conservative”, a reference to the fictional reactionary MP depicted in the magazine Private Eye.
Mr Gray said he told guests at the St John Ambulance (SJA) event on Sept 8 that Mr Javid and Mr Zahawi “look very alike” and that he was “sorry if I got you two mixed up”.
“The notion this is some sort of racist remark is ridiculous,” he added. “They are very close friends.”
Mr Gray has now been asked to temporarily step back from his role as a commander at the SJA.
The incident follows another controversy last month, when it was reported Mr Gray had jokingly suggested a bomb be planted in the office of Anneliese Dodds, the Labour Party chairman.
He later said the remarks had been “foolish” and apologised.