A political communications and social media consultant is being investigated after tweeting that a Muslim MP born in Bradford should “go back to Pakistan”.
Theodora Dickinson was suspended by the Conservative Party after targeting Labour shadow minister Naz Shah. Dickinson responded to a post showing the Bradford West MP discussing her experience of poverty, saying that if “Naz Shah hates this country so much why doesn’t she go back to Pakistan?!”
The Muslim Council of Britain, which has confronted the Conservative Party for its mishandling of Islamophobia, described the tweet as “blatant racism”. Commenting on the tweet, Naz Shah said,
“Over the last few weeks BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities have been coming to terms with the racism they have faced over the years. In 2020 to be told to go back to Pakistan highlights the level of racism that still exists in some quarters of society.”
Dickinson has issued a public apology following the backlash. She said, “I fully recognise how offensive it was, which is why I deleted the tweet almost immediately, though of course this does not excuse posting it in the first place. I have written to Ms Shah offering an unreserved apology.”
