SAJID Javid has hit out at No 10 over being snubbed following his exclusion from the state banquet for Donald Trump during last week's formal visit by the US President.
The Home Secretary - one of the contenders for the Tory leadership - said his exclusion was “odd” and he had still not received a proper explanation from Downing St as to why he was the only senior Cabinet minister not to be invited to the dinner at Buckingham Palace.
Baroness Warsi, the former Conservative Chairman, suggested the snub was down to Islamophobia.
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The peer, who has urged the Tory Party to launch a full independent inquiry into allegations of anti-Muslim prejudice, tweeted: “To use my own phrase from 2011: ‘Islamophobia has passed the dinner table test.’”
A No 10 source dismissed Lady Warsi’s criticism, stressing that views of the White House or the US embassy were “categorically not a factor” in deciding not to invite Mr Javid.
The source explained there was a “fixed list” of people who must attend state banquets, including the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor.
Eight ministerial places were available for the Buckingham Palace banquet. Among those who attended were Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, who revealed he spoke to Mr Trump during the event, Penny Mordaunt, the Defence Secretary, and Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary. Sir Alan Duncan, the Minister for the Americas, was also present.
It was also pointed out that Mrs May, when Home Secretary at the time of Barack Obama’s 2011 state visit, did not attend the state banquet.
Amber Rudd, Mr Javid’s predecessor at the Home Office, attended the event in 2017, which was held in honour of the King of Spain.
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Jacqui Smith, the former Labour Home Secretary, tweeted: “V odd. I went to every state banquet for visiting leaders as Home Secretary.”
V odd. I went to every state banquet for visiting leaders as Home Secretary https://t.co/odEMlbBWh4
— Jacqui Smith (@Jacqui_Smith1) June 13, 2019
Asked about his exclusion, Mr Javid said: “I have asked. I was just told that normally home secretaries aren't invited. So I don't know.”
He went on: "I don't like it. It is odd. My office did ask No 10 and they said: 'No'. You'd have to ask someone from No 10 why they made that decision."
Asked if he thought his exclusion was due to his Muslim background, the Secretary of State replied: "I am not saying that at all. I really don't know."
Mr Javid has previously been critical of Mr Trump after the President tweeted his support for the right-wing Britain First group.
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He responded that Mr Trump was endorsing the views of "a vile, hate-filled racist organisation that hates me and people like me".
During the course of his stay, the US president renewed his long-running feud with London Mayor Sadiq Khan - who also comes from a Muslim background - branding him a "stone cold loser".
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