There is a fairly widespread perception of Sayeeda, Baroness Warsi, now the 'most powerful Muslim in the UK', that she was (over-)promoted by David Cameron 'because of her religion'. One of the contributors to the New Statesman thread on the matter of this article sums it up rather neatly:"Warsi can shut it too. Never elected as an MP, put into the cabinet not because of her skill, but her race and gender, and on almost every tv appearance, talks nothing but shit. Even against Nick Griffin, she was mediocre."But whatever the primary cause of her elevation, you have to admire her for going where other politicians would never dare.
She fearlessly confronted her co-religionists in Luton, who cursed her for having the temerity to mention the name of Mohammed and the impudence to refer to the Qur'an because she 'doesn't even look like a Muslim' (ie, no hijab).
And today she raises the thorny topic of election fraud in the Asian community. She suggests that it cost the Conservative Party three seats (actually, it is more than a suggestion: she says that the fraud 'absolutely' cost the Conservative Party three seats).
The BBC have tried to contact the Baroness for more details and clarification, but she 'was not available'.
The 'hideously white' BBC does not, of course, highlight the racial dimension of Baroness Warsi's comments. And nor does Mehdi Hasan in the New Statesman.
So His Grace would like to clarify on Baroness Warsi's behalf.
There is indeed widespread electoral fraud within the Asian community, and postal voting has provided the necessary conditions for this to thrive: indeed, our election system has been variously described as 'third world', that of a 'banana republic', and worse than that of Kenya.
When you canvass in some Asian areas, the male head of the house will be summoned to talk to you (the women are generally not permitted), and it is he who will ensure that the other 27 registered members of his household will vote for the 'right' candidate, which is usually Labour (though not always). Thousands of ballot papers are routinely stolen, and helpfully completed on behalf of those who cannot speak English or even write their names. And for those who prefer to cast their votes in person on the day, they are not infrequently met and greeted by a veritable mafia of 'community leaders' acting as tellers, whose task it is to 'persuade' other members of their community to vote for 'their candidate'
But 'Asian' is too broad a term for this fraud - indeed, it is racist (unless, of course, proffered by another Asian). The fraud is most prevalent among the Pakistani community, which makes it more specifically a question of fraud among Muslims.
His Grace perfectly understands why the Baroness was 'not available' to clarify this.
Mehdi Hasan and the BBC are keen to know which three constituencies were lost to Labour because of this corruption. He will leave it to his wise readers and discerning communicants to assist them with their enquiries.
