Starmer urged to do more to push back against onslaught of racism'

"Hope Not Hate's chief executive has written a letter to Starmer in the lead up to a planned far-right demonstration in London on Saturday, demanding the prime minister speak up more against hate and racism. In the letter, Nick Lowles said: Hate breeds when those in power are silent. I implore you and other ministers to speak out urgently in defence of our migrant communities and our multicultural society more generally."

"In recent months we've seen the far right allowed to set the terms of debate on migrants and minority communities, with too little challenge from those in power. That failure has whipped up tensions in communities right across the UK and risks embedding further division. What's crucial now is that we stand firm on our values that means challenging the demonisation of migrants, exposing the hypocrisy of figures like Nigel Farage, and making the positive case for a politics that genuinely delivers change."

"The challenge to No 10 speaks to many MPs' fear that the party vacated the political playing field over the summer months as Farage, asylum hotel protests and rows over flags dominated. Several said they hoped that it would be a key theme of the Labour deputy leadership race between Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell on how the party could better defend its core values."

Senior Labour MPs and the anti-fascist charity Hope Not Hate have called for a stronger, more heartfelt defence of diversity and anti-racism from the prime minister. Hope Not Hate's chief executive warned that hate grows when those in power remain silent and urged ministers to speak up for migrant communities and multicultural society. MPs expressed concern that Labour ceded political ground over the summer as Nigel Farage, asylum hotel protests and flag disputes dominated debate. Several MPs want the deputy leadership contest to address how the party can better challenge the demonisation of migrants and defend core values.

Read at www.theguardian.com