Former Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has hit out at Labour’s Wes Streeting.
The Shadow Health Secretary has faced criticism after claiming a victory for Susan Hall in the London mayoral contest would be a win for “white supremacists”.
Bailey spoke on GB News about the controversial comments, questioning whether he, a black man, can be considered a white supremacist for voting for the Tory candidate.
“For me personally, they’re [Wes Streeting’s comments] really offensive”, he told Darren Grimes.
Shaun Bailey has criticised Wes Streeting's comments
GB NEWS
“One of the growing trends in London is the fact that communities are at each other’s throats.
“It’s comments like that from people like Wes Streeting that don’t help. I was born and raised in London.
“I’m 52-years-old. Racism now is more of an issue between communities than it has ever been and I believe the likes of Wes, who is seen as respectable and knowledgeable on one end, pumping nonsense like this very offensive statement.
“I would say to Wes, does he consider me a white supremacist? I don’t. I think it’s offensive to do that.
“That’s the first thing I thought of on a personal level. Susan Hall is a colleague of mine, and yes, she is not your very slick politician, she has never claimed to be.
“She doesn’t want to be. Susan is a woman who listens to people. Susan is a feisty woman. Susan is a woman about family, about safety.
Susan Hall GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY“That’s what she has been trying to portray through her campaign. She has had so many sneery attacks, people asking if there was a better candidate.
“I will tell you something, as someone who has fought a very long campaign, I’ve looked at what Susan has done, and she has worked her socks off.”
Despite Susan Hall’s efforts, Labour has declared victory with Sadiq Khan seemingly on course for a third term.
Labour have won key seats across London with early results from the mayoral count showing a swing from the Tories to Labour.
Keir Starmer is confident of a Sadiq Khan victory
PAThe Merton and Wandsworth constituency saw a 5.1 per cent swing to Labour, with the incumbent claiming 48.3 per cent of the vote.
Earlier today, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he remains confident Khan can win a third term as the Labour mayor of London.
Speaking to reporters in Mansfield, he said: “Sadiq Khan was absolutely the right candidate. He has got two terms of delivery behind him and I am confident that he has got another term of delivery in front of him.
“But look, if you look across the country, I am standing here in Mansfield in the East Midlands where we have won a significant victory in the mayoralty here, but that is the pattern across the country.
“We have been winning in Blackpool in a by-election with a 26 per cent swing, we have won in York and North Yorkshire, true blue Tory territory, and here in the East Midlands where there are very many constituencies that matter hugely in that general election.
“All of this is done with a purpose. I want a Labour Government to serve our country.
“This is effectively the last stop on the journey to the general election and I am really pleased to be able to show we are making progress, we have earned the trust and confidence of voters and we are making progress towards that general election.”