Priti Patel's allies have hit out at a BBC comedian's racially-charged jibe on Twitter about her not liking curry that incited a s...
Priti Patel's allies have hit out at a BBC comedian's racially-charged jibe on Twitter about her not liking curry that incited a string of disgusting responses branding her a 'coconut' - as 31 Labour MPs claim she has not authority on racism.
Guz Khan, who appears on BBC3 show Man Like Mobeen, posted a photo of Ms Patel pulling a face with the message: 'Shall we have a curry for dinner tonight Priti?'
Followers piled in with vile offensive tweets calling her a 'coconut' and said 'she’s more of a coconut curry type of girl to be honest....'
A coconut - white on the inside and brown on the outside - is a racial slur used to accuse someone of betraying their heritage by pandering to white views or opinions.
An ally of the Home Secretary said in response to the tweet: 'In the week where she spoke movingly about the racist abuse she has faced all her live to get this from another person of colour is beyond ironic.'
It comes on the same day the Home Secretary hit back after 31 Labour MPs accused her of 'gaslighting' BLM protesters by talking about her own experiences of racism.
The Home Secretary, who earlier this week revealed her own experiences of racist abuse, reacted furiously after Labour frontbenchers signed a letter criticising the way she spoke about her own background as the daughter of Gujarati refugees from Uganda.
Ms Patel said she would not be silenced by Labour MPs who dismiss 'the contributions of those who don't conform to their view of how ethnic minorities should behave.'
The divisive tweet was sent by Mr Khan this afternoon - who lives with his wife and three children in the Midlands - was met with fury from other social media users who leapt to the defence of the under-fire Home Secretary.
One user said: 'It's not racist when we do it Priti' and another said the tweet was yet another example of that the left is 'kind and tolerant'.
The tweet, posted by Guz Khan, who appears on BBC3 show Man Like Mobeen, has caused outrage on social media
A number of Twitter users made vile comments about the Home Secretary branding her a 'coconut', a racial slur
Guz Khan, who appears on BBC3 show Man Like Mobeen, posted a photo of Ms Patel pulling a face with the message: 'Shall we have a curry for dinner tonight Priti?'
Other Twitter users piled in to criticise the tweet, which is still up despite the backlash to it today. One user said: 'You're right, if anyone doubts that racism is alive and well in this country, some of these replies should show them how wrong they are.
Nikki Stix said: 'Wow so edgy. If this is the only way you can get attention, that's pretty desperate' and Beth Rosenberg said 'comedians are meant to be funny'.
While others criticised the oft-held notion the left-wing is more compassionate and understanding. A user called Mollie said: 'And they tell us the left is tolerant and kind'.
While Twitter user Liete of Alent said: 'Racism is fine if directed at conservatives.' And MP Lucy Allen said: 'Racism and misogyny is indeed alive and kicking in the UK. It was brilliant to see Home Secretary calling out racism in Parliament this week.'
The BBC were approached but declined to comment on the story.
The comedian has kept the tweet up despite the backlash, and has posted a tweet showing the abuse he has received for it and tagged in Priti Patel.
The follow up tweet says: If you thought my fans were bad...goddayum @pritipatel.' The 34-year-old will be familiar to viewers on BBC's popular Live at Apollo where he has appeared on a number of occasions.
He is perhaps best known for hit BBC3 show Man Like Mobeen, a comedy which follows the trials and tribulations of the titular character Mobeen and his friends in Small Heath, Birmingham.
Mr Khan was raised by his mother in the suburbs of Coventry and before he became a comedian was a teacher at a secondary school in the same area.
Twitter users reacted with fury at the joke from Gaz Khan this afternoon, describing it as 'unfunny' 'rude' and 'racist'
It comes dozens of MPs have put their name to a missive to Priti Patel expressing 'dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by Black people and communities across the UK'.
In a stinging rebuke, they said: 'Being a person of colour does not automatically make you an authority on all forms of racism.'
However, an incensed Ms Patel shot back this afternoon: 'I will not be silenced by @UKLabour MPs who continue to dismiss the contributions of those who don't conform to their view of how ethnic minorities should behave.'
Cabinet ministers lined up behind their colleague this evening, with Matt Hancock swiping that critics seemed to 'think there is such a thing as the wrong type of BAME'. 'We think that people are equal,' he told the daily Downing Street briefing.
Home Secretary Priti Patel voiced fury after Labour frontbenchers signed a letter criticising the way she spoke about her own background
Labour sources stressed that the letter was organised by the MPs themselves rather than the party, and declined to say whether Sir Keir Starmer agreed with the content.
Dozens of Labour MPs have put their name to a letter to Priti Patel expressing 'dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by Black people and communities across the UK'
The letter today was sent on a headed paper from Labour's Naz Shah - who in 2016 apologised for anti-Semitic social media posts including saying that Israel should be moved to the US
Cabinet ministers lined up behind their colleague this evening, with Matt Hancock swiping that critics seemed to 'think there is such a thing as the wrong type of BAME'. 'We think that people are equal,' he told the daily Downing Street briefing
The spat came after Ms Patel responded to violence at BLM protests by telling the Commons earlier this week that attacks on police officers were never acceptable.
Answering barbs from Opposition politicians in the chamber, she insisted: 'When it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance for social justice, I will not take lectures from the other side of the House.'
The letter today was sent on a headed paper from Labour's Naz Shah - who in 2016 apologised for anti-Semitic social media posts including saying that Israel should be moved to the US.
It was signed by shadow Leader of the House Valerie Vaz, shadow rail minister Tan Dhesi and former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott among others. In total 32 MPs put their name to the message.
It said: 'We write to you as Black Asian and Ethnic Minority Labour MPs to highlight our dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by Black people and communities across the UK...
'We all have our personal stories, of the racism that we have faced, whether it has been being defined by the colour of our skin or the faith we choose to believe in.
'Our shared experiences allow us to feel the pain that communities feel, when they face racism, they allow us to show solidarity towards a common cause; they do not allow us to define, silence or impede on the feelings that other minority groups may face.
'Being a person of colour does not automatically make you an authority on all forms of racism.
'Structures of racism, hatred and inequality have many layers and therefore, whilst it is true, there are some experiences of racism that we all face, there are also some experiences of racism that we all do not face.'
In the Commons on Monday, Ms Patel told MPs that at least 35 officers had been injured during BLM protests in London as she said she 'salutes their bravery'.
And she delivered a searing retort to criticism from the Opposition benches for suggesting she did not 'understand racial inequality'.
'On that basis, it must have been a very different Home Secretary who as a child was frequently called a Paki in the playground,' she said.
'A very different Home Secretary who was racially abused in the streets or even advised to drop her surname and use her husband's in order to advance her career.
Priti Patel is pictured as a baby with her mother, who came to the UK from Gujarat via Uganda. She picked up her Tory values and work ethic from her parents
A young Priti pictured with her father. Her parents, Sushil and Anjana, initially lodged in one small room in North London while her father completed his studies in engineering
'A different Home Secretary recently characterised, if madam deputy speaker I can say so, in The Guardian newspaper as a fat cow with a ring through its nose – something that was not only racist but offensive, both culturally and religiously.
'This is hardly an example of respect, equality, tolerance or fairness. So, when it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance for social justice, I will not take lectures from the other side of the House.'
On the protests themselves, Ms Patel said: 'As the ugly tally of officer assaults shows some protesters regrettably turned to violence and abusive behaviour at the weekend.
'This hooliganism is utterly indefensible. There is no justification for it. There is no excuse for pelting flares at brave officers, throwing bikes at police horses, attempting to disrespect the Cenotaph or vandalising the statue of Winston Churchill, one of the greatest protectors of our freedoms who has ever lived.
'It is not for mobs to tear down statues and cause criminal damage in our streets and it is not acceptable for thugs to racially abuse black police officers for doing their jobs.
'The criminals responsible for these unlawful and reckless acts are betraying the very cause that they purport to serve.'
Ms Patel said in normal circumstances peaceful mass protests would be acceptable but that because of the coronavirus crisis 'these are not normal circumstances' as she reminded the nation that 'any large gatherings of people are currently unlawful'.
At the No10 briefing this evening, Mr Hancock said he 'abhorred the divisive identity politics' being used against Ms Patel.
He said he was proud to be part of the 'most diverse government in history'.
'We don't think that there is such a thing as the wrong type of BAME,' he said. 'I just hope that the debates that are rightly taking place are debates all about how we can promote true equality of opportunity.'
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