Keir Starmer has been forced to make a humiliating apology after he hosted a Diwali celebration at No. 10, where guests were served with meat and alcohol.
The event, which took place last month, sparked offence among Hindus in attendance, given many choose not to drink and are also vegetarian.
Beer, wine and lamb were all on the menu at the event, with Sir Keir photographed wearing a bindi and a Hindu garland.
Following the event, press reports in India described “shock” among attendants at the religious fax pas.
Noted scholar Pt Satish K Sharma MBCS took to social media to blast: “The complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation, at any level, is of great concern.
“If accidental, it’s still disappointing.”
Tory MP Shivani Raja wrote to Sir Keir, saying she had been “greatly concerned” to hear that attendees had been offered meat and alcohol.
“I feel this speaks poorly against the organisation of this year’s event – with a disappointing lack of knowledge of the customs and traditions that many British citizens hold dear.
“As a practising Hindu, representing thousands of Hindus within my own constituency of Leicester East, I have been deeply saddened to hear that this year’s festivities were overshadowed in the greatest Office of State by negativity, as a result of this oversight.”
Today a No.10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister was pleased to welcome a range of communities celebrating Diwali to a reception in Downing Street.
“He paid tribute to the huge contribution the British Hindu, Sikh & Jain communities make to our country and how the government is driven by the shared values of hard work, ambition and aspiration.
“A mistake was made in the organisation of the event. We understand the strength of feeling on this issue and so would apologise to the community and assure them it will not happen again.”
The annual celebration of Diwali has taken place every year since 2009, and last year was hosted by Britain’s first Hundu Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
At their annual gathering in Liverpool, Labour similarly raised eyebrows when a fringe meeting on Palestine included pork items among the catering choices.
