The outpouring of respect for Sayeeda Warsi’s honourable act of resignation in the Twittersphere from sundry lefties is entirely justified. Resignation on a point of principle is not unprecedented (I am reminded of Jim Sheridan’s resignation over the New Labour line on Israel incursion into Lebanon almost exactly 8 years ago) but it is far too rare.

There’s plenty in Warsi’s record to criticise, she is still a Tory. But she was the first Muslim in a British cabinet, and a woman with working class origins at that — perhaps the characteristic that David Cameron came to regret the most with her Eton mess jibe when she said: Continue reading →