Sikh candidate told 'he’s talking through his turban' at hustings

At a hustings event last night, the Conservative candidate for Ludlow Philip Dunne, who was on the 2019 honours list said of the Sikh candidate Kuldip Sahota “he’s talking through his turban”. 

Tan Dhesi who was the first turban wearing MP called for him to be suspended from the Conservative party and for his honour to be stripped.

Mr Dunne later apologised for his comment.

Kuldip Sahota, Labour candidate for Ludlow, said, “I was shocked and deeply hurt that someone who was an MP for 14 years would make such a derogatory comment about the Sikh faith. This is extremely insulting to the Sikh community. 

“These are the kind of offensive comments I remember receiving in the 1970s. They have no place in modern Britain and they certainly have no place in our Parliament. 

“I hope the Conservatives will investigate this matter immediately.”

Ludlow’s Labour candidate in next month’s general election’s accused Conservative rival Philip Dunne of “offending” him after he told him he was “talking through his turban”.

Councillor Kuldip Sahota says the comment was made during a debate in Church Stretton tonight.

— Joanne Gallacher (@GallacherJoanne) November 27, 2019

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi said, “This is disgusting, racist remark wasn’t just made by a Conservative Parliamentary candidate, it was made by someone who was a Conservative MP for 14 years, who has served as a minister in several Conservative governments, and this year was even given an honour by the Conservative leadership. 

“He is not a random candidate in an unwinnable seat. He is a senior Conservative figure who could be re-elected."

“This attack on the turban, which we consider a crown, is an attack on the entire Sikh community, who fought and died for Britain wearing those same turbans. 

“The Conservatives must suspend him immediately and strip him of his honour. Anything less than that will be condoning blatant racism.” 

Mr Dunne has today apologised for his remark and said, "I apologised to Kuldip Sahota for my comments last night."

"I apologise again unreservedly for the offence caused.”

Heather Kidd, Liberal Democrat candidate told the Shropshire Star, "The audience was obviously shocked. It was the worst kind of unthinking Tory prejudice."

"Mr Dunne apologised quickly, but he should do so again publicly and have a big think about his attitudes, and reflect on his responsibilities.

"The comment came 15 minutes after holier-than-thou assertions that the Conservative Party always acts on Islamophobia and prejudice, which does make you wonder."