Ann Widdecombe should apologise

[Songsofexperience]

Her ludicrous speech comparing EU membership to slavery is a spit in the face of every descendant of actual slaves. Shame on her.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Doesn't make the content of what she said morally justifiable.

Context is everything

“There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors: slaves against their owners, the peasantry against their feudal barons – colonies, Mr Verhofstadt, against their empires. That is why Britain is leaving,” she told MEPs in her maiden speech in Strasbourg on Thursday. “It doesn’t matter which language you use, we are going, and we are glad to be going.”

Ms Widdecombe, who represents South West England, said it was “a great honour to speak on behalf of the largest single party” in the European parliament – a reference to the Brexit Party’s victory at the EU elections.

I agree, she shouldn’t have said it. It’s a slap to the face of descendants of slaves esp when Great Britain was a huge slave owning society and effectively started it in the US.

But then, it’s the Brexit party. They’re racist and don’t care.

I think she's just added to how embarrassing the behaviour of her party has been so far - Farage was sniggering all the way through that speech.

what is it with the cult of apology these days? Fkn hell.

Repent, and thou shall be saved!

I actually voted for Brexit in the referendum but it's a bit of a fucking stretch to say that Britain was in any way oppressed like slaves were, and are. YANBU OP.

I agree as well

Another embarrassing moment

I like her less and less these days. She should have stayed out of politics after she originally retired from it.

At least she was amusing when she went on Strictly.

Now that she is in cahoots with the Brexshit Party she is obnoxious, just like the rest of them.

Well the good news will be that the MEPs from all the other countries, and in fact many other senior leaders from around the world who will be watching what the UK does, will be forming their own opinions on her speech. Drilling more holes into the UK Titanic is a good way to proceed.
She will have offended many who the UK will want to do business with in the future.

I’m surprised she didn’t break into a rendition of Amazing Grace tbh. The woman has no shame.

but it's a bit of a fucking stretch to say that Britain was in any way oppressed like slaves were

gio has it

YANBU. Profoundly offensive. I find the way this lot are carrying on depressing. Even Brexit voters surely don't want to be so fucking rude to our allies.

It's like going back 400 + years

African states played a role in the slave trade, and slavery was a common practice among Sub Saharan Africans before the involvement of the Arabs, Berbers and Europeans. There were three types: those who were slaves through conquest, those who were slaves due to unpaid debts, or those whose parents gave them as slaves to tribal chiefs. Chieftains would barter their slaves to Arab, Berber, Ottoman or European buyers for rum, spices, cloth or other goods.[45] Selling captives or prisoners was commonly practiced among Africans, Turks, Berbers and Arabs during that era. However, as the Atlantic slave trade increased its demand, local systems which primarily serviced indentured servitude expanded. European slave trading, as a result, was the most pivotal change in the social, economic, cultural, spiritual, religious, political dynamics of the concept of slave trading. It ultimately undermined local economies and political stability as villages' vital labour forces were shipped overseas as slave raids and civil wars became commonplace. Crimes which were previously punishable by some other means became punishable by enslavement

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Should not apply to nasty bigots like Widdecombe.

... that's just even more horrible in context. She's on glue if she believes any of that is justifiable.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"

Well she won't agree with that, it was a FRENCH person who said it. Must be wrong.

And I'm sure that will go down well in all of the formerly colonised countries that we'll bel ooking to make post-Brexit trade deals with.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it

I agree

But if one of my children said the moon was made of green cheese they are on their own

Somethings are just too fucking stupid to defend

@NoBaggyPants unfortunately it does, or we become a like a police state, and frankly I'd rather she spoke than I have my thoughts and freedoms oppressed.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
Should not apply to nasty bigots like Widdecombe.

So it should only apply to those who meet with your approval? What makes your views so special? Who do you think you are?

There have been a lot more slaves and masters in history than just black slaves so in my opinion, from the broad terminology of what she said, it's you guys projecting your own offence onto the situation.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it

There's a line to be drawn when it comes to bigotry and hatred, I'd have thought most people agreed with that.

I personally wasn't referring to black slaves

Just slaves in general

The British still arent slaves to the EU and its ludicrous to suggest otherwise

it's you guys projecting your own offence onto the situation.

No, it's objectively offensive.

Plus for people who would never in a million years vote for these arseholes it's deeply embarrassing and shameful to see our country being supposedly represented by someone making this kind of rude ignorant remark to our friends and allies.

Our country deserves all it's got coming to it.