James O'Brien's Proof That The Media Are Ignoring Tory Islamophobia

6 March 2019, 15:30

James O'Brien swapped anti-Semitism with Islamophobia to show that the media is ignoring the issue in the Conservative Party.

Fourteen members of the Conservative Party were suspended yesterday over Islamophobic comments made on Facebook.

But that hasn't got nearly as much press coverage as anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and James believes things are upside down.

Speaking on his LBC show, James said: "Imagine if the New Statesman published an article by Owen Jones, stating baldly that there is not enough anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. What would happen?

James O'Brien made this great analogy on allegations of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party
James O'Brien made this great analogy on allegations of Islamophobia in the Conservative Party. Picture: PA / LBC

"Imagine if Diane Abbott or John McDonnell came forward with comments about Jewish women being like letterboxes, or made a joke about the wigs that orthodox Jewish women wear. Made a joke that invited people to mock and condemn them.

"Imagine if John McDonnell made a joke about the wigs that orthodox Jewish women wear, the locks that orthodox Jewish men grow or the yamulkes that many Jewish men choose to wear.

"Imagine if, for example, John McDonnell said 'Why do all these Jews walk around with frisbees on their head?'

"Explain to me how that would be substantively any different to what Boris Johnson said about Muslim women's sartorial choices, the ones that make them look like letterboxes.

"That's not even controversial, that comparison.

"Just imagine if Owen Jones wrote an article about there not being enough anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and then tell me how the hell Rod Liddle gets to write an article arguing that there's not enough Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.

"And he'll still get invited on to programmes and into studios. And Andrew Neil can still claim when he's covering these issues that he's impartial. And Fraser Nelson can host an event at the Palladium with Jacob Rees-Mogg, whose fans are so vile that 14 of them have been suspended from the very party.

"Just swap all of those phrases. Swap Islamophobia for anti-Semitism. Swap Rod Liddle for Owen Jones. Swap Fraser Nelson for Jason Cowley over at the New Statesman and swap Jacob Rees-Mogg or Boris Johnson for Diane Abbott or Tom Watson.

"And you tell me that we don't live in a country that is utterly upside down."

Fishing Industry Consultant debunks 'complete lies' about water pollution

Fishing industry consultant tells James O'Brien we were 'lied to' about water pollution

James O'Brien callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien's callers feel 'targeted' by Labour's immigration rhetoric

James O'Brien is joined by Sadiq Khan to take your calls

Speak to Sadiq: Mayor of London joins James O'Brien to take your calls

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

LBC caller blames migration for NHS waiting times

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Vance saw Francis... we might be onto something'

LBC caller jokes that JD Vance's visit to the late pope might've paved the way for an American pope

"Things have to get a little bit dirty"

Caller Alexander thinks that "things have to get dirty" to stop Reform

'They've alienated every single subsection of society'

Caller Phil ruthlessly describes a Labour Party that 'doesn't appeal to anyone'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

Caller Peter shares why 'we must remember VE Day'

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O'Brien asks: ‘how does Nigel Farage get away with it?’

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

James O’Brien is ‘fascinated’ by caller Will’s story on finding faith

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien and listeners with her analysis of the 'new world order'

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her analysis of the 'new world order'

Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?

LBC callers: Should the UK take a Canadian approach to dealing with Trump?

20,000 Brits die each year because of ultra-processed food

LBC callers give their reaction to findings that 20,000 Brits die each year because of ultra-processed food

LBC caller in Lviv explains how Ukrainians feel betrayed by America

LBC caller in Lviv explains how Ukrainians feel 'betrayed' by America

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her take on the state of the West

LBC caller impresses James O'Brien with her take on the state of the West