Keir Starmer called on to oust Labor MP over Kemi Badenoch’s ‘blackface’ post | Politics

Keir Starmer has been called on to oust a Labor MP who shared a social media post accusing Kemi Badenoch of representing “white supremacy in blackface”.

Dawn Butler shared this post on social media shortly before the election of the new leader of the Conservative Party.

The Brent East MP later deleted it, originally written by Nels Abbey, a London-based Nigerian journalist. It was titled “Warning: Seven Rules for Surviving Kemi Badenoch’s Victory” and contained “helpful tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism (i.e. white supremacy in blackface).”

He also called Ms Badenoch’s victory a “victory for racism”. Conservative MP Ben Obez-Jecti said he called on Sir Keir to remove the whip from Ms Butler.

“It doesn’t take long for Labour’s mask to slip,” he warned. “Dawn Butler is not the only one on the government bench who holds this view of Kemi.

“This will be a test of whether Keir Starmer removes the whip or actually justifies Butler’s disgusting endorsement of this slander?”

Downing Street sources noted that the post was no longer on Ms Butler’s profile.

In a message to the new Tory leader – the first black man to lead a major UK political party – Sir Keir said it was a “proud moment” for Britain.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy called it “an important moment not just for black and minority ethnic Britons, but for our whole country.”

Earlier this year, Ms Butler supported Doctor Who actor David Tennant in a dispute over Ms Badenoch’s stance on transgender people and women’s rights.

“Not all black women think alike,” Ms. Butler tweeted. “I agree with David Tennant.”

Ms Badenoch said she “won’t stay silent” after Tennant suggested she do so at the British LGBT Awards.

In her Tory election victory speech, Ms Badenoch paid tribute Rishi Sunak and also praised the “energy” of her rival Robert Jenrick.

However, she admitted the previous government had “missed standards” and the party must win back voters.

“It’s time to tell the truth, stand up for our principles and plan for the future,” she said.

Urging Mr Jenrick and other senior figures to join her senior team, which will be appointed in the coming days, she told him: “You and I know that we don’t actually have that many differences… We’ve been through this campaign. more united.”

She said Keir Starmer gave Tori opportunity with his shaky start. “The Prime Minister is realizing too late the dangers of not having such a plan,” she said.

Ms Badenoch received 53,806 votes to Mr Jenrick’s 41,388 – 56 per cent to 44 per cent, closer than many expected. Turnout was only 72.8 percent.