Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Britain's first Muslim cabinet minister, has resigned from the Conservative Party, citing its shift towards right-wing politics and expressing concerns about its treatment of different communities, as well as perceived hypocrisy and double standards.
Warsi, who serves in the House of Lords, stated that she remains committed to the conservative principles she embraced when she initially joined, Al Jazeera reported.
Warsi’s resignation comes in the wake of controversy surrounding her support for Marieha Hussain, a pro-Palestinian protester recently acquitted of racial abuse charges. Hussain had carried a placard depicting then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former home secretary Suella Braverman, in a manner interpreted by prosecutors as a racist slur.
The image was seen as suggesting that despite their South Asian backgrounds, they were conforming to white-dominated political attitudes. Following Hussain’s acquittal, Warsi posted a picture online, leading to accusations of divisive language.
The Conservative Party had reportedly received complaints about Warsi’s remarks, prompting the initiation of an internal investigation. Warsi responded by defending her stance, pointing to the court’s ruling in Hussain’s favour and asserting that the principles of justice were upheld.
Warsi’s resignation marks her latest challenge to the party’s leadership. In 2014, she stepped down from her role as a minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, criticising the government’s policy on Gaza and calling for an arms embargo on Israel.
Over the years, she has been a vocal critic of Islamophobia within the Conservative ranks, frequently highlighting the party’s perceived failure to address it with the same seriousness as other forms of discrimination.
Her resignation also precedes the Conservative Party conference, scheduled to begin on Sunday, where leadership hopefuls are expected to make their cases. Warsi’s departure raises questions about the party’s direction and its handling of internal dissent, particularly in relation to issues of race and religion.