On the last day of August I tweeted this: “So will @Keir_Starmer give his full backing to the MP for Ilford South [Jas Athwal], the landlord of disgraceful properties? Or will he expel him, as he did good people including Sam Tarry who supported workers and tried to get selected for the seat?” It was viewed over 17,000 times. Many accounts liked and retweeted it.

But a number of white people were baffled, some angry, because they want to believe that I hate all white people, men in particular, and so why was I confusing them by attacking an Asian MP and standing up for Tarry?

Several Asian Brits were annoyed for equally vacuous reasons: Athwal, apparently, is “one of our own” and these fellow brown-skinned Brits find it hard to believe that a female Asian journalist would condemn him.

Not my problem, guys. Do your research. You will learn that my judgements are based on fairness and justice, not race or religion.

The responses got me thinking about the morally pernicious idea of group loyalty.

Athwal owns 15 properties to let – more than any other MP. A BBC report showed several of his flats were mouldy and ant infested and some communal spaces were unsafe. How could tenants complain about a man with such power?

He says he is “profoundly sorry” – about what? Being found out or for those who have been suffering? He blames his management company. I........

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