By CP- 2 November 2024
Imagine, if
you will, the outcry if a Conservative or Reform MP had dared to share
something as venomous as calling a black Labour MP the “blackface of white
supremacy.” It would be front-page news for days, and rightly so.
Such
language would be career-ending in any other setting. And yet here we are, with
Labour MP Dawn Butler endorsing precisely this insult toward Kemi Badenoch, the
new Conservative leader.
Butler, and
her followers, ought to take a long, hard look in the mirror and ask: what are
we tolerating here?
Dawn Butler
shared a post from Nels Abbey, who claimed Mrs Badenoch was Britain’s “most
prominent member of white supremacy’s black collaborator class.” This slur,
rooted in twisted and divisive rhetoric, denigrates Badenoch’s achievements and
accuses her, in so many words, of betraying her race simply by being
conservative. The post went further, instructing readers to prepare for a
“surge of Badenochism,” a supposed wave of “white supremacy in blackface.”
The language
is calculated, crude, and designed to poison the well of political discourse.
Kemi Badenoch has shattered barriers as the first black leader of a Westminster
party, yet instead of being met with support or constructive debate, she’s
targeted with this shocking rhetoric. What an indictment of our political
landscape when we see a Labour MP resorting to character assassinations of this
sort.
Butler may
have since removed the post, but that doesn’t absolve her of accountability.
It’s not always enough to quietly undo a social media misstep once the backlash
begins. No, Butler owes a public apology, not just to Badenoch, but to the
British public, who deserve better than to see their leaders hurling slurs from
the Labour benches.
Keir Starmer
now faces a test of his leadership. If Labour truly wishes to present itself as
a modern, progressive party, then he must decisively condemn Butler’s comments.
So far, he has offered praise for Badenoch, calling her election a “proud
moment” for the UK. But if he doesn’t act, those words will ring hollow. This
is not simply a matter of party politics; it’s a question of decency. Will he
act now, or will he effectively condone Butler’s abhorrent endorsement?
The post
Butler shared was titled Warning: Seven rules for surviving a Kemi Badenoch
victory and included the following:
“Today
the most prominent member of white supremacy’s black collaborator class (in
Britain) is likely to be made leader of the Conservative Party. Here are some
handy tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism (i.e. white
supremacy in blackface).
“Don’t
allow yourself to be gaslit. Of course, a victory for Badenoch is an obvious,
unprecedented and once inconceivable victory for racism…
“Don’t
get arrested… The police don’t do nuance, and they conveniently refuse to
understand black and brown intra-communal language or forms of critique, satire
or compliment e.g. coconut, Uncle Tom, Aunt Kemi, house negro, choc ice etc.”
What we’re
witnessing is a double standard so blatant it could almost be satire. Can you
imagine the uproar if a Conservative MP had shared such a thing? The careers of
those responsible would be torched in a firestorm of outrage. Yet when Labour
MPs like Butler stoop to this level, there’s a troubling silence. Why the
discrepancy? It’s as if Labour’s supposed mantle of diversity and tolerance
comes with an asterisk: only for those who toe the party line. Deviate, and
you’re fair game for the most offensive insults in the book.
The Labour
Party, which still hasn’t managed to elect a female leader, much less one of
colour, has some hard questions to answer. If Starmer is serious about steering
Labour away from these dark corners of resentment and prejudice, he must act
swiftly. And if not, well, it’s yet another moment of “say one thing, do
another” from a party that’s becoming known for its blatant hypocrisy.
Ultimately,
Dawn Butler’s post is a sad reflection on where Labour’s political discourse
has gone. Let’s hope, for the sake of public life in Britain, that she and her
colleagues learn to engage in respectful debate rather than sinking to such
depths. Because, really, the question we should all be asking is: are these the
standards we want for our political leaders? Is this the level of discourse
that Britain, proud and diverse, should tolerate?
One thing’s
for certain: if this is what Labour stands for, then it is high time for a
reckoning.
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