When we judge politicians’ views, why should their skin colour be in any way relevant? | Sunder Katwala

As ethnic diversity becomes the new normal in politics, ideas should be the focus of discussion

There were so many ways to criticise Kwasi Kwarteng last week. The authenticity of his ethnicity was not one of them. The MP Rupa Huq lost the Labour whip after calling Kwarteng superficially black" at a Labour conference fringe meeting - an unacceptably prejudiced conclusion to draw from her observation that he has more in common with other privately educated colleagues than with her black constituents on a housing estate.

Because I was chairing that fringe meeting, co-hosted by British Future and the new Black Equity Organisation, I felt compelled to challenge those remarks, asserting that Kwarteng was black British, black African and recognisably black. The audience applauded this warning that Labour needs a clear red line between politics and prejudice, reinforced by the race activist Chantelle Lunt. A simple golden rule would help. Don't criticise a black Conservative in ways you would not criticise a white Conservative. If a critique of Kwarteng could be made of, say, Jacob Rees-Mogg too, carry on. If it depends on his race, desist.

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