Diane Abbott apologises in 'race' row

[Osem]

Shadow Health Minister Diane Abbott has apologised for comments she made on the Twitter social networking site, amid claims they were racist.

She wrote: ''White people love playing 'divide & rule' We should not play their game'' in response to criticism of the term "black community leaders".

Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi had called for her to be sacked for "inciting hatred against white people".

Ms Abbott said later: "I apologise for any offence caused."

"I understand people have interpreted my comments as making generalisations about white people, she said. "I do not believe in doing that."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16423278

I wonder how she'd have reacted if a white minister had made similar remarks about black people? Do you think she would have accepted a similar apology as the end of the matter or demanded blood?

[Russ]

The fact she wasn't sacked within the hour tells me there are clear double standards at play here.

[Gary L]

It would probably be seen as racist if they did sack her.

but I'd expect a white person to be sacked for saying something along the lines of "black people something, something, something"

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Russ

The fact she wasn't sacked within the hour tells me there are clear double standards at play here.

Agreed.

If this had been a white person making that comment or a member of the Tories there would be hell to pay.

[martyh]

excellant

And Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne added: "Personally I think Diane abbott should resign just for having no common sense."

http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16142830

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Agreed.

If this had been a white person making that comment or a member of the Tories there would be hell to pay.

I might be willing to accept she may not have meant the words in the manner they came across in but when spoken by a white person, perception is everything.

She claims they were taken out of context and not meant to be generalising, yet the second part of that tweet is clearly her showing a divide.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by martyh

excellant



http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16142830

I heard that said about Brown after his bigot gaff

---------- Post added at 12:47 ---------- Previous post was at 12:45 ----------

Originally Posted by Russ

I might be willing to accept she may not have meant the words in the manner they came across in but when spoken by a white person, perception is everything.

She claims they were taken out of context and not meant to be generalising, yet the second part of that tweet is clearly her showing a divide.

Her apology says everything i need to know about this incident

In a statement, Ms Abbott said: "I apologise for any offence caused."

"I understand people have interpreted my comments as making generalisations about white people," she said.

"I do not believe in doing that."

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Russ

The fact she wasn't sacked within the hour tells me there are clear double standards at play here.

Of that there is no doubt.

[kingll]

White folks smh.... so if a white person had said black people love playing divide and rule - he would be sacked. You damn right he should be sacked....
1. because Black people were not your colonial masters (so how can we play divide and rule)
2. If you read all the tweets in context - ummm ummmm her arguments were just poor.

[Osem]

What have the white people of today got to do with any of that? She didn't say "some white people", or "in the past white people have...." Surely someone as eloquent as Ms Abbott ought to know better.

[RizzyKing]

This incident highlights all that is wrong with so called racial equality in the UK in this day and age and that there are indeed double standards in operation. I will admit that there are racists in this country as there are in any country and i also realise that not all of them are white hating other colours or cultures it is something that exists in all types of people. Over the years i have gotten more and more fed up of race being used as it has been to batter down any talk on certain subjects and the perception that it is only a problem for the white community and everyone else is innocent on that charge.

An apology is not enough it wouldn't be enough if a tory, labour or lib dem member of any colour had said it so why is it suddenly ok for diane abbot to apologise and thats that the issue is resolved. Stupidity on this level is not an endearing quality in any person but in a high profile politician in a position where she should know a lot better it is completely unacceptable. If i had my way the whole world would work my way and people would be judged solely on who they are and how they act towards others none of this race, culture or religion nonsense but i am not stupid enough to think it will happen anytime soon.

[martyh]

Originally Posted by Osem

What have the white people of today got to do with any of that? She didn't say "some white people", or "in the past white people have...." Surely someone as eloquent as Ms Abbott ought to know better.

or maybe politicians should stay off facebook/twitter ect if they don't want people to know the truth about what they realy think that way we would all be blissfully unaware that we are reprsented by inept politicians totaly out of touch with day to day living

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by kingll

White folks smh.... so if a white person had said black people love playing divide and rule - he would be sacked. You damn right he should be sacked....
1. because Black people were not your colonial masters (so how can we play divide and rule)

Irrelevant. Cause enough argument in the ranks of your opponents, you can "divide" them and "rule" the divided parts. This is what divide and rule is about. Any thing that occurred in the past will not necessarily affect that, so is not relevant.

2. If you read all the tweets in context - ummm ummmm her arguments were just poor.

They were, but there have been instances where people were fired for less.

Unless she just wanted people talking. She posted those comments, and whether you read them in context or not, she knows that there are areas of the media that would publish them out of context.

I may not necessarily agree with all her views, but I don't think Diane Abbot is stupid.

[Ignitionnet]

Video of her taking a call from Ed M.

Enjoy her totally unrepentant non-apology before she received the dressing down. Clearly she was so sorry.

[kingll]

Originally Posted by Osem

What have the white people of today got to do with any of that? She didn't say "some white people", or "in the past white people have...." Surely someone as eloquent as Ms Abbott ought to know better.

Oh white people of today are so so different from white people of yesterday year cough Gary Dobson cough David Norris. I could go on but that divide and rule