Keir Starmer urged to censure Labour MP who shared tweet accusing Kemi Badenoch of ‘white supremacy in blackface’_Nhy
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to remove the party whip from a Labour MP who shared a social media post accusing Kemi Badenoch of representing ‘white supremacy in blackface’.
Dawn Butler shared the post just before the new Conservative party leader was elected.
The Brent East MP later deleted the post, originally written by Nels Abbey, a London-based Nigerian journalist.
It was titled ‘Warning: Seven rules for surviving a Kemi Badenoch victory’ and listed ‘handy tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism (i.e. white supremacy in blackface).’
It also described Mrs Badenoch’s win as a ‘victory for racism’.
Dawn Butler (pictured) shared the post just before the new Conservative party leader was elected
In her victory speech today, Ms Badenoch paid tribute to Rishi Sunak and also praised her rival Robert Jenrick’s ‘energy’
Foreign Secretary David Lammy described it as an ‘important moment not only for Brits from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but for our whole country’
Ms Badenoch said Keir Starmer had given the Tories an opportunity with his shaky start
NHS nurse Amy Gallagher wrote on X, formerly Twitter, the Prime Minister ‘must withdraw the whip from Dawn Butler immediately.’
Downing Street sources noted the post was no longer present on Ms Butler’s profile and pointed to Sir Keir Starmer’s message to Mrs Badenoch, who on Saturday became the first black woman to lead a major European political party. The Prime Minister wrote that her election was a ‘proud moment’ for Britain.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy described it as an ‘important moment not only for Brits from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but for our whole country.’
In her victory speech today, Ms Badenoch paid tribute to Rishi Sunak and also praised her rival Robert Jenrick’s ‘energy’.
However, she acknowledged that the previous government had ‘let standards slip’ and the party must woo back voters. ‘The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for the future,’ she said.
Appealing for Mr Jenrick and other senior figures to join her top team, which will be appointed in the coming days, she told him: ‘You and I know we don’t actually disagree on very much… We have come through this campaign more united.’
Ms Badenoch said Keir Starmer had given the Tories an opportunity with his shaky start. ‘The PM is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan,’ she said.
Ms Badenoch received 53,806 votes to 41,388 for Mr Jenrick – 56 per cent to 44 per cent, closer than many expected. Turnout was only 72.8 per cent.
She was congratulated by Sir Keir for becoming the first black leader of a major UK political party – another first for the Tories while Labour has yet to have a woman in charge.
