Starmer accused of 'rank hypocrisy' as comedian Shazia Mirza hosts major Labour ... trends now

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Sir Keir Starmer was last night accused of ‘rank hypocrisy’ for allowing a comedian who made ‘coconut’ slurs about leading British Asian Tories to host a major Labour diversity event.

Shazia Mirza was the compere at last week’s Labour gala dinner to celebrate the South Asian community, with Sir Keir and other Labour frontbenchers in attendance.

But the outspoken performer has previously branded ex-Home Secretaries Sajid Javid and Priti Patel ‘coconuts’ for showing a lack of loyalty to their ethnic communities.

Her invitation to the event in London also came just months after Labour MP Rupa Huq had the party whip withdrawn for describing the then Tory Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng as ‘superficially’ black.

Last night, Tory Party vice-chairman Saqib Bhatti accused Sir Keir of ‘rank hypocrisy’ and called on him to hand back any money raised by the event.