A Labour MP’s retweet about Kemi Badenoch was called “appalling” by Yvette Cooper.
Dawn Butler shared a post by the Nigerian-British author Nels Abbey, who said that Ms. Badenoch’s victory as the new Tory leader was a “victory for racism.”
Ms. Butler then deleted the retweet, which she said contained “white supremacy in blackface” and offered “tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism.”
The Home Secretary claimed not to have seen the post, but after reading portions of it, she informed LBC: That clearly does not sit well with me.
Ms. Cooper added, when asked if the post’s words expressed a “racist sentiment,” I strongly disagree with the words that you have read, which are clearly appalling.
“Thus, I haven’t seen the post. Although I am unaware of the circumstances, I believe we ought to congratulate Kemi Badenoch on her election.
“I will keep on contradicting her on a wide range of issues, however, by the by, I compliment her on her political decision.”
Because of the retweet, there have been calls for Ms. Butler, who represents Brent East, to lose the Labour whip.
Ms. Cooper responded, when asked why no action had been taken: As previously stated, I have not seen the post, but I believe party-related issues are always ones for the whip.
Following Ms. Badenoch’s victory in Saturday’s contest for the Conservative leadership, Ms. Butler has come under fire from Tory lawmakers for the retweet.
Huntingdon MP Ben Fat Jecty said Ms Head servant was “in good company on the Public authority seats in having this perspective of Kemi”.
He stated: This will be a test to see if Keir Starmer takes off the whip or justifies Butler’s abominable acceptance of this smear.
Ms. Badenoch’s election as the first black leader of a major UK party was praised by other Labour figures like Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Sir Keir Starmer as a historic event.