Naz Shah MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, responding to Guardian reports of an essay by Boris Johnson arguing Islam had caused Muslim countries to be ‘literally centuries behind’, said:

“This is as historically inaccurate as it is Islamophobic. Boris Johnson must fully apologise for his record of racist remarks.

“After his previous comments describing women wearing the burqa as ‘letterboxes’ and ‘bankrobbers’, which has been linked to a rise in hate crime targeting Muslim women, Johnson’s disgraceful views make him unfit to be an MP, let alone Prime Minister.

“His words will embolden the Islamophobes who, according to recent polling, make up over half of Conservative Party members, who are about to choose the next Prime Minister of our country.”