As The Guardian has noted:

Shabana Mahmood told “white liberal” hecklers to “fuck right off” after being accused at an on-stage event of copying the policies of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

The home secretary was barracked by a man who said he wanted to “personally thank you for out-Reforming Reform” during a live interview in central London on Monday. Two other audience members shouted “refugees welcome” as the man was removed by security.

Speaking to the comedian Matt Forde, Mahmood said she would not be put “in her box” and accused the protesters of trying to “delegitimise” the “perfectly valid” concerns many people have with high levels of immigration.

The clash took place as Mahmood faces pressure from Labour MPs and cabinet colleagues to water down hardline plans for asylum and immigration.

There is so much to unpack here. First, note that Mahmood chose her interviewer with care. As Google noted when I asked about him:

Matt Forde is a British comedian, broadcaster, and author known for his "pro-politics" comedy and insightful political commentary, defining himself as being on the centre-left of the political spectrum. He has a deep background in the Labour Party, having worked as a party advisor before becoming a comedian, but has described himself as "politically homeless" due to his disillusionment with the party under Jeremy Corbyn.

I think we can safely conclude he is not on the left, then. Like many now calling themselves centre left when associated with Labour, he is almost certainly on the neoliberal right at best.

Second, Mahmood's policies are racist. They seek to increase the scale of discrimination within the UK against those not born in this country, with a particular prejudice, indicated by worsening treatment, for those who come here as refugees, who inevitably have low social status, low incomes and come from ethnic minorities. This is racist discrimination. Those calling this out are right to do so. Our government is not respecting human rights as it is required to do by the conventions it has signed.

Third, note that Mahmood used the "whiteness" of those attacking her as a basis for her counterattack. That is a sign of a racist mindset, in itself. So, too, is the comment about being put in her box. She obviously thinks there are lines in that case. Her accusers did not draw them.

Fourth, there can only be two reasons for what Mahmood is doing. She either believes in discrimination, or she is trying to "out-Reform, Reform". Her accusers look to be making a reasonable claim in that case.

Fifth, Mahmood has never addressed valid concerns about migration, on which this country has always been, and now is, critically dependent, for reasons I have often explained here. She has, as she was accused of doing, always played to the Reform agenda, and it is both far-right and racist.

Sixth, she had her critics thrown out.

How far has Labour fallen? Very far indeed, I think we can safely say, based on this incident and Mahmood's reaction. No wonder the country has had enough of them.

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