UK government adviser sacked over Islamophobia comments

Right-wing philosopher Roger Scruton has been sacked as a British government adviser after a string of controversial comments including denying that Islamophobia was a real problem. Prof Scruton has been dismissed with “immediate effect” for his “unacceptable comments”, a government spokesman said. In an interview for British magazine, the New Statesman , Mr Scruton was quoted as saying that that "Islamophobia" was a "nonsense" propaganda word "invented by the Muslim Brotherhood in order to stop discussion of a major issue". He was also critical of financier George Soros who has become the target of a Hungarian government attacks on his foundations that have funded pro-migrant groups. The right-wing government has taken a hard-line stance against migrants, building border fences and introducing laws to restrict Muslim migrants into the country. The government has portrayed Mr Soros, who is Jewish, as a puppet master in a series of campaigns that critics have said are anti-Semitic. Mr Scruton said: “Anybody who doesn’t think that there’s a Soros empire in Hungary has not observed the facts.” He added said it was “nonsense” to accuse Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán of anti-Semitism. “The Hungarians were extremely alarmed by the sudden invasion of huge tribes of Muslims from the Middle East,” he added. A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the British opposition Labour Party, said on Wednesday: “Anybody in a public position who makes those kinds of remarks should not be in that position.” The sacking followed previous calls for the removal of Mr Soros from the unpaid chairmanship of a housing advisory group. He had held the position since November last year. The opposition Labour party said that previous comments were “hateful” on subjects including homosexuality and Islam.

UK government adviser sacked over Islamophobia comments

Roger Scruton was under scrutiny over his comments on Islam, anti-Semitism and financier George Soros