The Conservative Party is facing another racism storm after Darren Lewis, husband of Tory deputy chair Sarah Pochin, made inflammatory comments about Black Labour MP Dawn Butler.
In a now-deleted social media post, Lewis responded to a video of Ms Butler with the words: "Oh dear, I think she's had enough of his s**t." The remark has been widely condemned as disrespectful and racially charged.
Immediate Backlash and Political Fallout
Labour MPs and anti-racism campaigners have expressed outrage at the comments, with many calling for immediate action from the Conservative leadership. Ms Butler, who represents Brent Central, has been a prominent voice in Parliament on issues of racial equality and social justice.
A Labour source told journalists: "These comments are completely unacceptable from anyone, let alone someone so closely connected to the Conservative Party's senior leadership. It raises serious questions about the culture within Tory circles."
Growing Pressure on Conservative Leadership
The controversy comes at a difficult time for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has repeatedly pledged to maintain high standards in public life. With Sarah Pochin serving as one of the party's deputy chairs, pressure is mounting for the Conservatives to address the incident formally.
Political analysts suggest this latest episode could further damage the Tories' reputation among ethnic minority voters, particularly following previous controversies involving racist language within the party.
Pattern of Problematic Behaviour
This isn't the first time Darren Lewis has courted controversy with his social media activity. His online presence has previously featured content that critics describe as inflammatory and inappropriate for someone connected to senior party figures.
The incident has prompted renewed calls for greater accountability among politicians' families and staff regarding their public communications.
As of publication time, neither Darren Lewis nor Sarah Pochin had made any public statement addressing the controversy, while Conservative Party headquarters remained silent on whether any disciplinary action would be taken.
