Priti Patel slams Labour for accusing her of ‘gaslighting’ BLM

Priti Patel hit back today after Labour MPs accused her of ‘gaslighting’ BLM protesters by talking about her own experiences of racism.

The Home Secretary voiced fury after Labour frontbenchers signed a letter criticising the way she spoke about her own background.

Dozens of MPs have put their name to the missive 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. 

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. 

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. 

‘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.’