Downing Street has condemned as “divisive and wrong” comments made by Hungarian leader Viktor Orban ahead of a meeting with Boris Johnson. It comes as an MP has sent a letter to the PM outlining why the visit is wrong.
Right-wing populist Mr Orban will visit Downing Street on Friday for talks with the PM, and No 10 said Mr Johnson would not back away from bringing up issues surrounding human rights.
Mr Orban has been criticised for remarks on “Muslim invaders” and describing migrants as “a poison”. His visit comes just days after a report concluded that Anti-Muslim sentiment ‘remains a problem’ within Conservative Party.
“On all human rights issues we do not shy away from raising them, the PM has condemned those specific comments which were divisive and wrong,” Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said on Thursday.
Eroding democracy
But Mr Orban’s visit could also put under strain the UK’s relationship with the rest of the European Union, where he has been accused of eroding democracy, the rule of law and press freedoms.
Euro-sceptic Mr Orban previously praised Mr Johnson for delivering Brexit, is a close ally of Russian President Vladamir Putin, and has twice blocked the EU from issuing statements condemning China for actions in Hong Kong.
And last year he pushed the EU to lift sanctions on Belarus, where a Ryanair flight was diverted last week so authorities could arrest a prominent journalist who has been critical of the regime.
Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said Mr Johnson should urge Mr Orban to take “a robust stance towards the Lukashenko regime in Belarus and Putin’s Russia”.
Letter
Zarah Sultana, Labour MP for Coventry South, tweeted: “Boris Johnson is set to welcome Hungary’s far-right Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to Britain tomorrow. He should not be welcomed here. His antisemitism, Islamophobia, attacks on migrants & other minorities must be challenged. My letter to the Prime Minister:”
In the letter, she writes: “I urge you to cancel the plan to welcome him to Britain. He should instead be challenged for his long and shameful record, including his:
- Frequent use of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories against George Soros, a Holocaust survivor.
- Praise of Admiral Horthy, Hitler’s ally in Hungary, who was partly responsible for horrific crimes of the Holocaust in the country
- Authorities’ consistent targeting and harassment of Jewish groups and organisations, like the Aurora community centre in Budapest
- Description of refugees as ‘muslim invaders’ and migrants as ‘poison.’
- Legislative assault on LGBT rights
- Refusal to obey court rulings to pay compensation to wronged Roma children
- Attack on democratic rights and civil liberties
Boris Johnson is set to welcome Hungary's far-right Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to Britain tomorrow.
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) May 27, 2021
He should not be welcomed here. His antisemitism, Islamophobia, attacks on migrants & other minorities must be challenged.
My letter to the Prime Minister: pic.twitter.com/PHXtq5kVVK
Related: Why Boris Johnson’s cushy relationship with Viktor Orban should concern us all