Caroline Nokes on tackling abusive behaviour towards women

       Commentators have called for centrist Tory MP Caroline Nokes to be booted out of the Conservative Party, after using a Newsnight debate about the Clapham attack to talk about ‘microaggressions’. Ms Nokes, along with Labour MP Ribeiro-Addy, refused to criticise the flawed asylum system that allowed the London chemical attack suspect to live in the UK.

       Last night it emerged that Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, who arrived in Britain illegally in 2016 on the back of a lorry, said his life would be in danger if he were returned to Afghanistan.

       Mr Ezedi was reportedly convicted of a sex offence in 2018, and eventually granted leave to remain after twice being turned down by the asylum process.

       When the two MPs were asked whether they were “concerned” by the asylum process that allowed the attack suspect to stay in the UK, Ms Ribeiro-Addy argued: “His asylum status is not really the issue of concern.”

       READ MORE: Everything we know about acid attack suspect and convicted sex offender

       Ms Nokes refused to criticise the asylum process, before talking about 'microaggressions' (Image: BBC)

       Ms Nokes added: “I think it's wrong to comment on that”, and refused to question the judge’s decision.

       The broadcast then sparked outrage after quickly moving the debate on from the crucial question about Britain’s asylum system to one about ‘microaggressions’.

       Presenter Kirsty Wark informed viewers that “microaggressions are aggressions”, before voicing surprise at the number of microaggressions Ms Nokes faces.

       The Conservative MP replied: “I think there’s a really important message here which is, with respect, the media are not interested in microaggressions, they want to hear about the most egregious offences.

       “The stark reality is every day women will face misogyny and microaggressions. If you’re a woman of colour it will be worse, and we have to be better at understanding the culture that makes men think ‘that’s ok’. It’s not OK and you can see a pattern of behaviours that lead to really horrific crimes.”

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       Clapham attack suspect Abdul Shokoor Ezedi (Image: Met Police)

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       Ms Wark agreed, arguing microaggressions can lead to much more serious crimes, implying a link with the Clapham attack.

       The Newsnight discussion and Ms Nokes are now under fire, with demands for the MP to be thrown out of the Conservative Party.

       Right-wing commentator John Duffield blasted: “A bogus asylum seeker from Afghanistan with previous sex offence convictions has the square root of nothing to do with misogyny in the British population or 'micro aggressions'.

       “Nokes needed throwing out of the Tory Party long ago.”

       Columnist Obadiah Mbatang voiced similar fury with the discussion refusing to properly debate Britain’s asylum failures, tweeting: “Caroline Nokes - a Conservative MP - talking about ‘microaggressions’ when the clear elephant in the room is that he should have been deported from this country”.

       He also pointed out that Ms Nokes served as the senior immigration minister in the Home Office from January 2018 to July 2019.

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       Former London Assembly member Peter Whittle described the debate as “gaslighting”, adding: “It beggars belief”.

       Television commentator Benedict Spence piled on the BBC, tweeting: “‘Men’s behaviour… microaggressions… the media… something must be done…’”

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       “This, right here, talking down to you from a BBC studio, is the problem.”

       Podcaster Alex Dale blasted: “The Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee uses the pretext of a woman and children having their faces burned off to remind everyone that she feels slighted when a man calls her ‘love’”.

       “Is ‘Equalities’ a euphemism for ‘absolutely no sense of proportion’?”

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