My complaints of Tory Islamophobia were ignored, so I had to resign | Ajay Jagota

The party I was proud of seemed to want to brush my case under the carpet. What is that if not institutional racism?

In January I took the heart-wrenching decision to resign as chair of South Shields Conservative Association. It was a difficult moment. My parents came to Britain from India in the 50s. My father worked as a coalminer for 40 years. I was born here and we were a typical “working-class family”. My father has been a Labour supporter all his life like so many first-generation immigrants, so it was a surprise to both my parents when I joined the Conservative party.

But they were so proud when I was elected chairman of my local association. I have always been so grateful for the opportunities made available to me here, and I often reflect on how my life might have turned out had my father not embarked his arduous journey to these shores.

Related: Tory chairman accused of repeatedly ignoring racism complaints

Related: The Tories’ Islamophobia will not be stopped from within | Fiyaz Mughal

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from Islam | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2UyTfWS