THERESA May’s penultimate Prime Minister’s Questions saw her party slammed for “silence” on racism.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on May to condemn the “go home” vans she had introduced in London as Home Secretary.
It comes after the US president was widely criticised for racist remarks in which he told four progressive congresswomen of colour to “go back” to their own countries – despite three being born in the US.
Blackford said: “This week, the Prime Minister finally did the right thing. When Donald Trump told women that they should go home, she called it out as unacceptable.
“Donald Trump’s actions are textbook racism. They are repugnant. And diplomatic politeness should never stop us from saying so.
“Will the Prime Minister now on reflection also take the opportunity to call out and condemn the racism of the ‘go home vans’ that she created in coalition government with the Liberal Democrats?”
WATCH: Blackford calls for May to 'condemn racism of go home van'
The vans, which were trialled in London by May, then home secretary, carried a picture of handcuffs on their side with text reading: “In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest.”
May said that she had admitted at the time the measure was “too blunt an instrument”, but that the public wanted a “fair immigration system which deals with those who are here illegally”.
The SNP MP hit back: “When the Prime Minister implemented the hostile environment policy her party stayed silent. When she delivered the racist ‘go home’ vans the Tories remained silent. When asylum seekers are deported to places where their lives are at risk the Tories stay silent, and when faced with the racist columns written by the former foreign secretary, they stay silent.
“Isn’t the member for Aberconwy [Guto Bebb] correct Prime Minister when he warns that the Tories are appealing to the type of nationalism that has seen Ukip grow?
“While the Tory Party shares more with the extremes of Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, is it any wonder that Scotland looks on in horror?”
READ MORE: Poll finds Scottish Tories are far further right than UK party
May replied: “The Conservative Party is a party for the whole of the United Kingdom, and the only party in this house which is appealing to blatant nationalism is the party that wants to take Scotland out of the UK.”
May also used PMQs to call on Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn to apologise for his “failure to deal with racism” in his party.
She accused the Labour leader of not opening his eyes to anti-Semitism, referencing an advert in the Guardian newspaper taken out by more than 60 Labour peers which criticises Corbyn for a “toxic culture”.
May told the Commons: “Before [Corbyn] stands up and parades himself as the champion of climate change, or the champion of the people, or the defender of equality and fairness, he needs to apologise for his failure to deal with racism in the Labour Party.
“Just today 60 distinguished members of the Labour Party have written in the newspapers the Labour Party welcomes everyone ‘except, it seems, Jews’.
“This is your legacy Mr Corbyn.”
READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn fails test of leadership, say Labour peers
Corbyn insisted Labour “totally opposes” racism in all its forms and hit back at the PM over Islamophobia within Conservative ranks.
He said: “This party totally opposes racism in any form whatsoever. Anti-Semitism has no place in our society, no place in any of our parties, and no place in any of our dialogue. Neither does any other form of racism.
“When 60% of Tory Party members think Islam is a threat to Western civilisation, and the Prime Minister has said she will act on Islamophobia within her own party, I hope she does.”
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