Chuka Umunna In Heated Row Over Mosque Letter
Labour’s Chuka Umunna has had a heated on-air exchange with a Sky News presenter after he objected to questions about his views on a letter sent out to UK mosques.
The letter from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to more than 1,000 imams in England urges them to do more to root out extremists and prevent young people being radicalised.
It has sparked fierce criticism from some Islamic leaders, prompting the Prime Minister to defend the move.
During a live TV interview with Sky’s Dermot Murnaghan, the shadow business secretary confessed to not having read the letter, which featured on the front page of a national newspaper and led news bulletins on Monday.
When pressed on his views about the subject he retorted: “I think you are being a bit ridiculous right now, I was asked to come and speak about David Cameron’s speech on the economy and what was happening around the labour market.
“Nobody told me that I was going to come on this programme and be asked to agree whether I thought the Government was patronising Muslim people and Muslim leaders.
“I’m not just going to speak off piste without actually having read a letter. I don’t think you are being terribly fair.”
When the presenter called an end to the interview, the Labour MP, who is tipped as a future party leader, waved his hand and walked out of the studio.
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