Former London minister Paul Scully sparks fresh Conservative racism row with claim of ‘no-go areas’ in parts of the capital and Birmingham – but Tory mayor blasts ‘nonsense slurs’

Former London minister Paul Scully sparked a fresh Tory racism row today after he claimed there are ‘no-go areas’ in parts of the capital and Birmingham.

The Sutton and Cheam MP prompted outrage with comments branded ‘disgusting’ and ‘Islamophobic’.

Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, also hit out at ‘nonsense slurs’ and urged politicians based at Westminster to ‘experience the real world’.

It came as the Conservatives continue to battle a racism storm following the suspension of leading ‘Red Wall’ MP Lee Anderson.

The ex-Tory deputy chairman had the Conservative whip withdrawn at the weekend for claiming London mayor Sadiq Khan was being controlled by ‘Islamists’.

Mr Scully has been among the many critics of Mr Anderson and used a radio interview today to condemn the remarks as ‘wrong-headed’ and ‘inflammatory’.

But he added he could see what Mr Anderson was ‘trying to drive at’ in his remarks about recent pro-Palestinian protests over the Gaza crisis.

Former London minister Paul Scully sparked a fresh Tory racism row today after he claimed there are ‘no-go areas’ in parts of the capital and Birmingham

It came as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives continue to battle a racism storm following the suspension of leading ‘Red Wall’ MP Lee Anderson

Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, hit out at ‘nonsense slurs’ and urged politicians based at Westminster to ‘experience the real world

Labour’s Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, described Mr Scully’s comments as ‘utter drivel’

In a futher discussion about whether the Conservatives have a problem with Islamophobia, Mr Scully told BBC Radio London he didn’t like the term due to ‘wider connotations’ and said he preferred to use ‘anti-Muslim hatred’.

Mr Scully went on to suggest people had ‘concerns about… their neigbourhoods changing in parts of the North in particular’ that were being reflected in a ‘really, really clumsy way’.

‘We’ve got to have a sensible use of language so we can have a constructive, adult debate about this,’ he added.

Pressed on his remarks, Mr Scully then added: ‘The point I am trying to make is, if you look at parts of Tower Hamlets, where there are no-go areas.

‘Parts of Birmingham, Sparkhill, there are no-go areas – mainly because of doctrine, mainly because of people abusing in many ways their religion.

‘It’s not the doctrine of Islam to espouse what some of these people are saying. That is the concern that needs to be addressed.’

Mr Scully’s claims provoked fury among local politicians in Birmingham, with Mr Street posting on X: ‘The idea that Birmingham has a ‘no-go’ zone is news to me, and I suspect the good people of Sparkhill.

‘It really is time for those in Westminster to stop the nonsense slurs and experience the real world. I for one am proud to lead the most diverse place in Britain.’

Labour’s Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, wrote: ‘As one of the MPs for Sparkhill I am expecting an apology for this utter drivel.  

‘My kids hang out in Sparkhill day and night, never had a moments worry, I go there weekly and live literally 5 minutes walk from there and used to live there myself.’

Nicky Brennan, the Labour councillor for Sparkhill, posted: ‘I am absolutely disgusted that Tory MP Paul Scully has said parts of Sparkhill has ‘no-go areas’.

‘There is no place in Sparkhill that has made me feel unsafe. Quite the opposite in fact. It’s a vibrant, welcoming community in Birmingham.

‘These comments are disgusting.’

Miqdaad Versi, spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain, said: ‘This is extremely problematic from Paul Scully.

‘Not realising ‘no-go zones’ are a typical false and Islamophobic trope from the white supremacist and far-right fringes, shows the depth of the problem.’

A source close to Susan Hall, the Tory candidate to replace Mr Khan as London mayor, said she did not consider any parts of the capital to be a ‘no-go area’.

Ms Hall used an article in the Evening Standard today to hit back at Mr Anderson’s comments about Mr Khan.

‘I may be one of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s biggest critics, but I also see the monstrous abuse he gets as one of the country’s most prominent Muslim politicians,’ she wrote. 

‘No one should have to put up with that, and I wholly condemn anyone who does it, or fuels it.

‘His faith is one of his positive characteristics, not something to be suspicious of.’

Ms Hall added: ‘We should celebrate our diversity and tolerate each other when we have differences of opinion. That is what London has always been about.

‘As politicians we must all act responsibly, especially during challenging times.’