STORY
The Observer newspaper has issued an apology and removed a controversial cartoon by illustrator Saffron Swire, following widespread condemnation and accusations of racism, particularly from former Labour MP Zarah Sultana. The cartoon, published on 21 July 2025, sparked outrage for its depiction of Ms Sultana.
The contentious element of the cartoon, which the MP published on Twitter, featured a “goodie bag” with a box of raisins labelled “Zarah Sultanas”. This image depicted a “brownfaced” version of the iconic Sun-Maid woman, a caricature that Ms Sultana swiftly denounced as “brownfacing a box of raisins and mocking my surname.” She further labelled the cartoon “racist trash” in a social media post, highlighting Swire’s background as “a right-wing hack who is the daughter of an aristocrat and ex-Tory MP,” referring to Sir Hugo Swire.
The cartoon was reportedly a reaction to Ms Sultana’s recent announcement of forming a new political party with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Another part of the cartoon showed Mr Corbyn in a red jumpsuit with hammer and sickle decorations, with a speech bubble stating: “Let’s paint the town red!” The immediate backlash on social media, with numerous users accusing the newspaper of racism, prompted The Observer to act. A spokesperson for the newspaper stated on 21 July 2025: “We are genuinely sorry for any offence caused and we are in the process of removing the cartoon.”
Saffron Swire has yet to make an official comment on the allegations of racism.