Keir Starmer under pressure to suspend Labour MP over ‘hateful’ post about Kemi Badenoch
SIR Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure to suspend one of his own MPs after she shared a post branding Kemi Badenoch “white supremacy in blackface”.
Dawn Butler shared the social media post shortly before the new Tory leader was elected.
Originally written by Nels Abbey, a London-based Nigerian journalist, it also accused Ms Badenoch’s rise as Conservative leader of being a “victory for racism.”
The East Brent MP deleted the post, but the backlash was swift, with Tory bigwigs and MPs demanding action.
Former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng blasted her comments as “really hateful” and “race-baiting”, telling GB News she should have the “whip removed for this”.
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty also urged the PM to act, adding: “It never takes much for Labour’s mask to slip.”
Labour sources tried to calm the storm, pointing out that Ms Butler quickly removed the post.
Kemi Badenoch won the Tory leadership race after knocking out her rival Robert Jenrick in a tight race.
The outspoken MP was announced as the new Conservative Party leader with 53,806 votes.
The former Business Secretary replaces Rishi Sunak four months after the Tories’ crushing defeat at the General Election.
Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said: “Isn’t it great we’ve got another female leader and isn’t it great we’re the first party to have a black leader?
“Another glass ceiling shattered.”
Next she will have to formally appoint a new Shadow Cabinet from a rump of just 121 Conservative MPs.
And as leader of the opposition, one of her first jobs will be taking on Sir Keir Starmer at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
Speaking after the result, Kemi said: “Our party is critical to the success of our country, but to be heard we have to be honest.
“Honest about the fact that we made mistakes. Honest about the fact that we let standards slip. The time has come to tell the truth.”