A British Conservative MP has been dropped from his role at a first aid charity following comments he made about two government ministers he mixed up.
James Gray confused Nadhim Zahawi, the new education secretary, and Sajid Javid, the health secretary, at a reception in Parliament to honour people who volunteer with St John Ambulance.
It was reported he then allegedly made a racist comment while trying to explain his confusion. The charity said it had removed the 66-year-old lawmaker as “commander of charity”, a position he had held since September 2020.
Mr Zahawi, 54, was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Kurdish parents and arrived in the UK with his family when he was 9, having fled during the early years of Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Mr Javid, 51, was born in Lancashire to Pakistani parents who immigrated to Britain in the 1960s.
Mr Gray had mistakenly referred to Mr Zahawi as the health secretary – which is Mr Javid’s job – when introducing him to the audience on the terrace of the Palace of Westminster. At the time, Mr Zahawi was the vaccines minister.
According to the Daily Mail, when his mix-up was pointed out, Mr Gray responded: “They all look the same to me.”
Mr Gray denies making the comment, saying: “I said: 'I am sorry to confuse the two of you. You two look very alike'. I said 'I am sorry if I got you two mixed up'.”
He said he was close friends with both men.
Mr Zahawi is said to have held a conversation with him behind closed doors immediately after.
After reports of the incident surfaced, St John Ambulance announced on Monday evening that it had asked Mr Gray to stand down.
“St John does not tolerate racism in any way, shape or form,” the charity said in a statement.
“We spoke with James Gray following the event about our values as an open, inclusive and progressive charity.”
A spokesman told The National that Mr Gray would not be taking part in any St John Ambulance activities in the future.
Mr Gray was forced to apologise last month for a “foolish remark” suggesting a bomb should be planted in a Labour frontbencher’s office.
At the time Mr Gray said he meant “no offence” with the comment about Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds, which he posted in a WhatsApp group ahead of the opposition’s conference in Brighton.
The timing of the remark particularly raised concern among MPs, because it was at the Conservative Party conference in the same city in 1984 that Margaret Thatcher was targeted by a bombing.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
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Results
2pm: Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m; Winner: Majestic Thunder, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
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Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent
2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled
2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives
2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
