London
\nA Conservative MP in the UK has said he will step down before the next general election.
\nPaul Scully\u2019s decision follows comments he made about Muslim \u201cno-go\u201d areas in London and Birmingham.
\nThere was a widespread backlash over his remarks, which he made in the context of an escalating row over Islamophobia in the ruling Conservative Party.
\nIn an interview with BBC London last week, he described areas of Tower Hamlets in London and Sparkhill in Birmingham as \u201cno-go\u201d areas for non-Muslims because of local Muslim residents \u201cabusing\u201d their religion.
\nShortly after the interview, Scully publicly apologized for the comments and said he \u201cput his hands up\u201d for using language he \u201cregrets.\u201d
\nBut on Monday, the MP announced his resignation ahead of UK general elections expected later this year.
\nHe said on X: \u201cI have told my local association that I won\u2019t be contesting the next general election. Over the last nine years it\u2019s been a privilege to represent in parliament, the area which I called home for 35 years.\u201d
\nHe added: \u201cFuelled by division, the party has lost its way and needs to get a clear focus \u2026 It needs a vision beyond crisis management which can appeal to a wider section of the electorate including younger people.\u201d
\nScully\u2019s comments concerning \u201cno-go\u201d areas were condemned by both Conservative figures and politicians from the main opposition Labour Party.
\nAndy Street, Conservative mayor of the West Midlands, said it was \u201ctime for those in Westminster to stop the nonsense slurs and experience the real world. I for one am proud to lead the most diverse place in Britain.\u201d
\nChair of the Labour Muslim Network, Ali Milani, told BBC London that Scully was promoting an \u201cIslamophobic myth that has been continuously perpetuated.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
London A Conservative MP in the UK has said he will step down before the next general election. Paul Scully\u2019s decision follows comments he made about Muslim \u201cno-go\u201d areas in London and Birmingham. There was a widespread backlash over his remarks, which he made in the context of an escalating row over Islamophobia in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":391752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-391728","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n