Diane Abbott

[daisya]

http://www.politics.c...ter-white-people-jibe

Would be interested to hear what people have to say about this one.

[Davethedog]

How is this not racist "white people love playing 'divide and rule'"? She says its based on the 19th century but she didn't say "white people USED TO love playing 'divide and rule'" did she.

She further says that 140 characters isn't enough, which makes me think a wiser and more responsible person wouldn't have tweeted it.

She is supposed to represent her community - this casts doubt, to me, if she would treat them all fairly.

[LoftyLottie]

To me there is no doubt that it is a racist comment. And I agree with Space Cadet at 12.03. She was backtracking!! Nasty piece of work in my opinion.

[LoftyLottie]

Well said Jayne. It has always been apparent that she dislikes white people generally.

[McMouse]

She is a professional polititian who jumps on any passing bandwagon especially if she can demonstrate a supposed 'racist' ***. Trouble with tweets etc is that many minor celebrities do their tweeting after a few glasses.

[tamborine]

Yay JJ, she likes blonde hilites ! Nearest she'll get to being arian - lol

[McMouse]

^^^ Don't know what then swear filter would take exception to 's lur'

[joggerjayne]

You didn't type slu"t" by mistake, Mousey?

The t is next to the r on the keyboard.

[ummmm]

You might have hit 't' instead of 'r'

[Ellipsis]

The offending tweet has been deleted from her timeline but still appears in some views. This is the best reconstruction I can make of the conversation ...

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bimadew Bim Adewunmi
Clarifying my 'black community' tweet: I hate the generally lazy thinking behind the use of the term. Same for 'black community leaders'.
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HackneyAbbott Diane Abbott MP
@bimadew I understand the cultural point you are making. But you are playing into a "divide and rule" agenda.
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bimadew Bim Adewunmi
@HackneyAbbott Maybe. I find it frustrating that half the time, these leaders are out of touch with black people they purport to represent.
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HackneyAbbott Diane Abbott MP
@bimadew White people love playing "divide & rule" We should not play their game #tacticasoldascolonialism
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bimadew Bim Adewunmi
@HackneyAbbott I don't advocate 'divide & rule'. But I wish we could deal more effectively with issues without resorting to monolithic view.
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HackneyAbbott Diane Abbott MP
@bimadew Ethnic communities that show more public solidarity & unity than black people do much better #dontwashdirtylineninpublic
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[andy-hughes]

The inherent problem with Twitter is the same as the problem on here - any poster can read something, and start typing, thinking as they go. I do it every time i post on here.

This can lead to the occasional misinterperetation of observations posted - which can then be addressed.

But then this is not Twitter - and I am not an elected MP.

I would advise any MP to keep off social networking sites - they already have a forum for their views, it's called The House Of Commons - at least there they stand a chance of thinking before they speal - and an instant chance to correct any misunderstandings.

[joggerjayne]

She stands by the innocence and integrity of her statement ...

... but has had it deleted.

If only everyone could make their prejudiced remarks disappear like that.

Sadly for other people, Diana Abbott would not let them off the hook so easily.

[McMouse]

jj you could be right. Even with my 'new eyes' I'm still prone to typos.

[mickrog]

interview here says it all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxRqMJHG56A&feature=player_embedded

[Ellipsis]

jj, deleting something you've posted on Twitter is now very simple. I know it used to be a nightmare ...

[joggerjayne]

Richard Keys and Andy Grey made a humorous off the cuff sexist joke about that lineswoman, and were hounded out of their jobs.

Diana Abbott makes an off the cuff racist jibe ... and it vanishes.

Tah Daaaah !!

[whiskeryron]

Before Diane answers Andrew Neill's questions she is constantly looking up, does this mean that all of her answers are printed on the ceiling ? This means of course that she is unable to answer any question off the cuff, so to speak.

[ludwig]

Ed - // Her comment seems fine to me in the context of Imperialism/Colonialism //

Maybe, but that was a fictional context she invented afterwards.
I don't know if she's a racist or not but, but she certainly made a sweeping racist generalisation.
IRONY ALERT...
Still, black people do love to do that sort of thing don't they?
..IRONY ENDS