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.
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATHC INFO
England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)
New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
CHINESE GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2nd row
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
3rd row
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
4th row
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
5th row
Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
6th row
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
7th row
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
8th row
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
9th row
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
10th row
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
arcus Ericsson (Sauber)