Baroness Warsi resigns from Conservatives in the House of Lords

BARONESS Warsi, a former Conservative Party chairwoman, has resigned from the party in the House of Lords, claiming it has shifted too far to the right.

She was the first Muslim woman to serve in the British cabinet under David Cameron’s government.

According to the BBC, Baroness Warsi cited "hypocrisy and double standards" in the party’s treatment of different communities as reasons for her decision.

However, the Conservative Party stated that she was informed earlier this week that an investigation into her use of "divisive language" was about to begin.

The complaint against her is related to her support for Marieha Hussain, who was acquitted of a racially aggravated public order offence.

Hussain had held a placard during a pro-Palestine protest depicting Conservative leader Rishi Sunak and former home secretary Suella Braverman as coconuts.

Baroness Warsi had publicly congratulated Hussain on her acquittal and was later asked to retract her support, which she refused to do.

Baroness Warsi said the complaint was to be handled privately, and she felt it was appropriate to resign and address the matter openly. She expressed disappointment in the direction the Conservative Party has taken, stating that it has moved "far right."

She added that she remains a Conservative at heart but is no longer aligned with the current party.

Baroness Warsi has previously been critical of the party’s handling of Islamophobia and the language used by some politicians, including Suella Braverman.

Her resignation comes ahead of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.