There has been a backlash against the cartoon (Picture: Reuters)

The Guardian has been accused of racism over a cartoon showing Priti Patel and Boris Johnson.

Steve Bell depicted both politicians as bulls, with horns and rings through their noses.

There has been a backlash against the image, with some claiming it was offensive given the Home Secretary’s Hindu heritage.

Former Chancellor Sajid Javid tweeted: ‘Reminiscent of anti-Semitic cartoons from the last century. Incredibly offensive. @guardian should know better.’


Reminiscent of anti-Semitic cartoons from the last century. Incredibly offensive. @guardian should know better. pic.twitter.com/Btl7bmVz3l — Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) March 8, 2020

Politics lecturer Adrian Hilton tweeted: ‘Good grief, I hadn’t seen this derogatory caricature of a ‘sacred cow’, lampooning Priti Patel’s Indian/Hindu heritage. Why does Kath Viner @guardian not consider this to be an expression of religious/racial “hate”?’



The British Tamil Conservatives added: ‘This cartoon is offensive on every level. – It’s anti-Hindu. It portrays the Home Secretary, of Hindu origin as a cow. A sacred symbol for Hindus. – Its racist and – misogynist. It’s plainly unacceptable! It may constitute a hate crime.’

Others claimed the cartoon showed a double standard, saying there would have been a public outcry if a left-wing BAME politician had been portrayed in such a way.

One man said: ‘Imagine the reaction if the Telegraph portrayed Diane Abbott with a ring in her nose.’

Another asked: ‘Racism is okay when the left does it huh?’

This is Home Secretary Pritchard Priti Patel…and this is how the Guardian sees her. Pack of racist, reality-denying, cretinous bullies. pic.twitter.com/tGSbtsApou — Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) March 7, 2020

Good grief, I hadn’t seen this derogatory caricature of a ‘sacred cow’, lampooning Priti Patel’s Indian/Hindu heritage. Why does @KathViner @guardian not consider this to be an expression of religious/racial ‘hate’? https://t.co/haM68t5pRQ — Adrian Hilton (@Adrian_Hilton) March 7, 2020

The cartoon refers to the bullying allegations against Priti Patel and her defence by Boris Johnson.

A Cabinet Office inquiry into allegations Ms Patel broke the ministerial code is under way.

Among the claims are that a senior official at the Department for International Development had reported a ‘tsunami’ of allegations of abuse by officials in Ms Patel’s private office when she was secretary of state, BBC2’s Newsnight reported.

Those allegations came after a former aide at the Department for Work and Pensions was reported to have received a £25,000 payout from the Government, having said she was bullied by Ms Patel when she was employment minister.

A spokesman for Ms Patel said: ‘The Home Secretary categorically denies all of these allegations.’

The Guardian has been contacted for comment.