News

Baroness acts with dignity as extremists pelt her with eggs.

Baroness Warsi, the Conservative spokesperson for community cohesion, visited Luton this evening and - as has been widely reported in the media - she was pelted with eggs while on a walkabout of local businesses in the Bury Park area.

And how did she respond?  By 'doing a Prescott', by running away, by ignoring them?  No - she turned around and with immense dignity that showed her to be heads and shoulders above her attackers, she tried to engage in a respectful debate with her attackers.  But it was abundantly clear that they were not interested in debate or listening to her.  They were there to abuse, to attack and to shout. The accompanying video really says it all.

The abusive and incredibly rude and disrespectful protestors turned out to be a small handful of extremists who are well known in the area as a bunch of trouble-makers.

The way the Baroness responded - with such dignity, intelligence and calm - contrasted sharply with the rude, intolerant, aggressive behaviour of her attackers.

After cleaning the eggs from her hair and jacket in a local shop, she continued with her visit.  The police helped keep the protestors at bay, and a very pleasant evening was then held at the Conservative Association where the Baroness held two Q&A sessions with local residents as if nothing had happened!  She went on to answer questions ranging from the economy to education and, of course, community cohesion. The lady is unflappable.

Local residents and community leaders who joined us at the events were at pains to point out that the egg-throwers were not representative of Luton Muslims, or British Muslims as a whole - and the Baroness (who knows Luton well and who has visited friends in the town on many occasions) repeated this point when interviewed by the BBC and local and national radio stations.

The residents of Luton - and the Muslim residents in particular - do not need to apologise or feel ashamed for this evening's shenanigans.  We all know these people do not speak in the name of the vast majority of the moderate and respectful local Mulsim community.

The attackers called the Baroness names that showed an incredible lack of dignity that they are all unrepeatable.  And moreover they threw eggs at the Baroness but were terribly bad shots and hit several other members of the group including myself.  What really angers me, though, is that they did so with my wife, 4 year old son, and one year old daughter within earshot and egg shot.   They didn't care.  They don't care.  They can not think about anything other than their own intolerance and obsessions.  They are disrespectful.  They are rude.  They don't care who they offend.  They are prepared to hurt women and children to make their extremist points.  They are without shame - and they do not speak for any British Muslims that I know.  What must the families of these people think of them?

And as a result of this evening's events?.....  Few people can have anything but the most incredible degree of admiration for the way the Baroness conducted herself; and pity for protestors who showed themselves to be both unrepresentative and not particularly bright. Their actions merely affirm the positive, moderate stance of Baroness Warsi and the majority of Luton Muslims, and bring shame on their own limited clique.  They were using the very freedoms of protest and free speech that British laws and the British way of life allows them to advocate a way of life and set of beliefs that would see such freedoms disappear.  Not very bright are they?

It is sad that a respected, practicing British Muslim woman could not walk down a busy street without being verbally and physically attacked.  As the Baroness said 'These people do not represent British Muslims... They do not speak in our name'.

As she left Luton this evening, smiling, the Baroness thanked the many, many people who turned out to see her and I assured her she is welcome to Luton any time. An offer she has graciously already accepted. What a lady!

P.S. the last leading politician to be pelted by eggs in Luton was John Major in 1992. He went on not only to win the election, but the two Luton seats stayed Conservative, too.  A good omen, then?

For Luton News Video coverage of the event click here.