By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-16 13:41:16 | Updated at 2024-12-16 15:35:45
2 hours ago
Former Conservative MP Steve Baker has defended the landlord of an Amersham pub after being sued by a convicted terrorist for it's "offensive" name.
Khalid Baqa, who was jailed for four years and eight months on five counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, claimed the The Saracen’s Head Inn in Amersham, Buckinghamshire is "racist".
Speaking to GB News, Baker highlighted that during his 14-year tenure as an MP, none of his Muslim constituents had ever raised concerns about the pub's name.
"I've represented proudly for 14 years thousands of British Muslims who've never raised the Saracen's Head with me, even though it's only 25 minutes from my home," he said.
Steve Baker hit out at a lawsuit against the Buckinghamshire pub
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The pub's landlord Robbie Hayes has branded the £2,000 lawsuit a "complete joke", as Baqa claimed the "depiction of a bearded Arab/Turk" on the signage of the public house "incites violence".
Dismissing that the case is based on "cultural sensitivity", Baker affirmed took issue with Baqa challenging the pub's historical name.
Baker fumed: "I would just say to anyone who wants to re-litigate 500 years on, the Crusades, where wickedness was done on all sides - no, this is the UK. If you don't like it, don't go.
"Whatever element of British law it is being sued under, it should be repealed."
He revealed he had raised concerns about such legal issues back in 2010, but was unable to address them as a backbencher.
Baker explained: "I've got to say, it's the Conservative Party's fault. This was true in 2010, I remember taking it up with colleagues at the time.
"It wasn't a battle that I could fight as a backbencher - goodness knows I had enough rebellions, but I'm afraid the Conservative Party should have dealt with this in 2010."
The former MP criticised the Equalities Act specifically, arguing it had "ended up entrenching positive discrimination against people."
Steve Baker told GB News that this is 'not a case of cultural sensitivity'
GB News
"There's a range of these laws where incorrect left wing ideas, which they can defend from a seeming moral high ground, are actually very, very damaging," Baker told GB News.
Baker concluded his remarks by emphasising the need for balance in protecting vulnerable individuals.
"We need to protect people where they're vulnerable, but this is not such a case," he told GB News.
If Baqa is victorious in his lawsuit against the pub, the 60-year-old plans to take action against 30 other pubs with the same name.
