Hackney MP Diane Abbott clarifies: ‘I am proud to be British’
Diane Abbott MP
Hackney MP Diane Abbott has released a strongly worded statement expressing her “pride” at being a Brit.
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington Labour MP, who is also shadow home secretary, was responding to an article in the Daily Mail which quoted her as saying that she is “ashamed of being a British person”.
The newspaper carried a quote from her in which she said suggestions asylum applicants’ teeth might be checked as part of an assessment to determine their age made her feel ashamed of her nationality.
Sociologist Frank Furedi, whose interests include identity and race issues, said statements about being either ashamed or proud of having a specific nationality were essentially meaningless, however, and he accused Abbott of “gesture politics”.
Abbott was born in London before 1 January 1983 – when rules around citizenship changed – which means she would automatically have been British from birth and would have had no influence over the matter. From the government’s point of view, anyone who fits into this category does not achieve British citizenship but simply is British.
Furedi told the Hackney Citizen: “Others have also said they are ashamed to be British, and it’s a kind of gesture politics where you can say ‘I’m ashamed’ or ‘I’m proud’ and that’s supposed to give you this kind of virtue and endow you with some sort of moral quality.
“These kinds of asides or gestures are not really strongly meant, which is why Abbott can change her mind from one day to the next.
“The least interesting aspect of people’s identities is that which is accrued by birth or biology, rather than by accomplishments.
“There’s a fairly narcissistic tendency to focus on what’s ethnic, racial or national in your background, when what is important is your work and what you’ve done in your community, the contribution you have made to society.”
In her statement Abbott said: “The Daily Mail have claimed that I am ashamed of being British and that I think the entire government is racist. This is because I called out the shameful treatment of refugees and the Tory government’s scapegoating of immigrants to distract from their failing policies.
“Let me be clear, I am proud to be British and I am proud of our tradition of providing sanctuary to refugees.
“But I am ashamed of the right-wing press and politicians who have called for child refugees to have their teeth inspected, as if they were livestock.
“Since becoming an MP almost thirty years ago I have been a target of the right-wing press, the subject of illegal surveillance, and I have been subjected to vile sexist and racist sexist abuse.
“I have long campaigned against racism and xenophobia, even when it was dangerous and unpopular to do so, I will continue to do so as Home Secretary.”
Actress Carey Mulligan has also reportedly said she is “ashamed to be British” because of the UK’s “inaction” over the plight of refugees.
When your country does something good you feel proud of it and when it does something lousy you feel ashamed of it. Isn’t this a bit of a non-story?
“‘My country, right or wrong,’ is a thing that no patriot would think of saying. It is like saying, ‘My mother, drunk or sober.’” G.K.Chesterton
She is a racist bigit
Personally I couldn’t give a toss what this egotistical person has to say ……left to her we would be overrun with a continual stream of immigrants.
DA does not speak for the majority of British people. She is a prime example of a politician who continues to ignore what the the British people are telling the political elite. This is the reason politicians are held in very little regard now.
Where is the racism Dianne ? questioning someones age ? asking for age tests ? It ts you that refers to livestock-no one else. You call people racist, where was it ? show me where ? but you can’t so then you go on the defensive and give victim statements. Facts Miss Abbott, deal with facts not some vague picture that you wish to paint to get yourself out of yet another corner you’ve painted yourself into.
diane abbott is a hypocritical racist , period
Ms Abbott is well known at the Voice Newspaper for only turning up to black related issues when there is a free meal involved. Ms Abbott is also well known in Hackney for representing no one but herself.
There could be no more finer example of this than her latest intention to not vote against the whip kowtowing to ex lover Corbyns wish to brexit. The people of Hackney voted overwhelmingly to remain. Why do we keep voting for this woman who clearly thinks she is above the people she is supposed to represent? We need to get rid of her and the current corrupt council. Vote Tory, vote Lib Dem, Vote the monster raving looney party, vote anything but Labour in the next elections it seems this is the only way to get rid of this narcissistic woman.