GOOD Morning Britain host Adil Ray furiously clashed with Tory MP Mark Harper on today’s show over the government’s response to a hate crime investigation.
Fifteen golliwog dolls were seized from The White Hart pub in Grays, Essex in February where they were being displayed behind the bar.
The rag doll caricatures of black people originated in the late 19th century and are now considered offensive and racist.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman was reportedly unimpressed by the police intervention, however, Essex Police has denied she reprimanded them about the investigation.
Adil questioned Transport Secretary Mr Harper over the Home Secretary’s alleged views, saying: “I now get pictures of people sending me golliwogs saying they’re coming round to my house.
“I’ll probably get more after this show. Do you think the Home Secretary, who is here to protect us, has acted responsibly?”
Mr Harper began by highlighting the Home Secretary’s efforts to break up organised human trafficking gangs, before Adil interrupted by asking if he felt it was right that she had “inflamed racists”.
Adil continued: “I wasn’t getting it [abuse] before two weeks ago, Mr Harper. Why am I getting them now? I was called golliwog at school, I had racist abuse at school. The Home Secretary saying the police are wasting their time, is that right? Would you do the same if you were Home Secretary?”
Mr Harper condemned the abuse aimed at Adil, calling it “totally wrong”.
Unhappy with Mr Harper’s inability to call the golliwog pub incident racist, Adil added: “It really upsets me. Why can’t you say it’s the wrong thing?”
Mr Harper said: “Adil, to be fair I’m trying to answer your questions and every time I try and answer your questions you interrupt me. So look, I’m trying to answer your questions sensibly.
“The police make operational decisions based on enforcing the law. That is for them to do. I don’t think it’s helpful for ministers to second guess it.
“I don’t think people should display them. I wouldn’t display them, I don’t think that’s very helpful at all.”
The MP then stated that he did not think Ms Braverman was to blame for the racism being levelled at Adil.
There were posts of support for Adil on Twitter, with one viewer writing: “All those who sent disgusting things to Adil on here over past few weeks should hang there heads in shame man up and apologise.”
Another said: “Well done for speaking out Adil.”
Chris Ryley, who runs The White Hart with wife Bernice, first received a complaint about the dolls displayed in his pub in 2018.
