Energy minister Mike O'Brien has now been forced to issue a statement denying anti-Jewish prejudice in his article in Muslim Weekly (see posts below). The Sunday Telegraph reported:

'A senior minister was forced to deny last night that he had been anti-semitic in accusing Michael Howard and another Jewish MP of failing to stand up for British Muslims. Mike O'Brien, the Energy Minister, issued a hasty statement after Mr Howard demanded an apology for remarks made by the minister in an emotionally charged appeal to Muslims to support Labour. "In an article in Muslim Weekly I attacked Michael Howard as Leader of the Conservative Party and not personally," said Mr O'Brien. "As minister for race equality from 1997 to 2001 I have a strong record in promoting good community relations, as well as challenging the evils of racism, xenophobia and anti-semitism." '

His defence is disingenuous. Yes, of course he attacked Michael Howard in his role as leader of the Conservative party. But given the fact that the party actually supports the positions O'Brien suggested Howard would not support, the minister was clearly singling out Howard personally. And in the context of the rest of the article, there was only one reason for that -- Howard's Jewish identity. As a Tory aide said:

' "There is a very nasty undercurrent to this tactic. It is vital that Labour disowns O'Brien's despicable remarks as soon as possible."'

It won't.

Posted by melanie at January 10, 2005