Playing race card

Ayesha Hazarika rightly criticises Laurence Fox’s ignorance of Indian troops serving in the British Army in the First World War, and the racist abuse by football “fans” and other ignoramuses on social media (Perspective, 24 January).

But like the woman on BBC’S Question Time whose remark caused Fox’s outburst, she gives no facts to justify that “the only royal of colour was being hounded out of the country” due to racism. That insults the UK, which as Hazarika also admits, is better than the Twitterati; and is there really less racism in the USA or even Canada?

Meghan Markle was welcomed overwhelmingly by the UK public and by mainstream media commentators as a breath of much-needed fresh air, just as Kate Middleton was. That continued through the wedding ceremony and her pregnancy, and has changed only since Archie’s birth due to Meghan’s and Harry’s unwise demands, statements, interviews and actions – as evidenced in detail by many other journalists (male, female, white, black and of mixed racial parentage).

It is Meghan herself, rather than the general public or mainstream media, who draws attention to her race.

Laurence Fox may not have been the ideal spokesperson, but his robust criticism of the all-too-easy “racist” accusations (which stymied any sensible debate on immigration

for 40 years after Enoch Powell’s 1968 ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech) was justified.

Ms Hazarika should redouble her long-standing efforts to eradicate the very clear anti-semitic views in her own Labour Party.

JOHN BIRKETT Horseleys Park, St Andrews