Is this the mother of all calling out - Katherine Birbalsingh

[DramaFatigue]

Katherine Birbalsingh has done the mother of all calling out and I can't help but sit here with my jaw on the kitchen table in awe.

She has written a 4-page open letter to Sir Kerr Starmer calling out Jess Phillip's behaviour online. Whilst I don't always agree with KB's methods of the school she runs, I do think that Jess Phillips behaviour towards her is shocking and unbefitting of someone who could be running the country. JP should resign TBH.

https://news.sky.com/story/headteacher-katharine-birbalsingh-brands-labour-mp-jess-phillips-social-media-posts-racist-and-bullying-12913139

I do wonder whether KB is going to put in a complaint - and if the complaint reflects the original letter or takes into account any of the things she has been told about.

The way Twitter, retweets and quote tweets works is relevant to her complaint. I hope she has a good understanding of it as errors and misunderstandings can be easily found out.

Or will there be no complaint, no retraction and she will just continue tweeting about it?

She doesn’t understand screen shots so she’s likely to come a cropper

*If she does formally complain.

Much better not to formally complain and just keep throwing mud. Much more attention and less scrutiny.

@AgathaSpencerGregson

"I disagreed with most of it, but that but struck me as especially hatstand. Still does."

Perhaps you should read the thread. Good to see the KB fan has got some support though.

@AgathaSpencerGregson

So you're denying she lied about the 'leftist' plans for the curriculum, isolated a black girl for her hairstyle and gave a platform to Peterson? Yep, I'm the hatstand one 🙄.

Oh me?

Yes most of you agree and try to insult because your arguments are poor.

No change there.

Why do it? Why not just put forward your view without it. How far do you take it? Sending insults on Twitter or dms

Interesting who wants SM to be worse not better.

Yes, it’s intolerable when people disagree with you, isn’t it

While I think JP’s tweets were beneath the standard you’d desire from an MP…my goodness, this has to be one of the most embarrassing (and deeply hypocritical) public meltdowns of all time.

Many MPs don’t do very well on Twitter. We have this gem…

The best tool for societal change is to let people speak and hear what they’re saying. And saying I believe you even if you have a preference for other politics or people...

...In the same way if anyone else who says it and has experienced it might. Regardless of politics or character assignation....

IIRC KB said something along the lines of if a child accuses a teacher of racism, always side with the teacher. Yikes!

Yup. She has also agreed that “It's a virtue signalling alternative to meaningful action”, said that unconscious bias training is a nonsense and that nothing can be done about unconscious biases as we all have them.

To be clear though, if she had been a victim of racism here, it would be unfair to dismiss it as ‘fair game’ off the back of her previously expressed views (although it would be fair to ask her to re-examine them).

But there’s obviously no evidence to support her claims and she’s made herself look a complete idiot.

JP tweeted in response to her posting a picture of a dead woman alongside her abusive ex husband and writing "good times".

Why are you making it about KPs race.

What she did is abhorrent regardless of her race, sex or gender. Regardless of any other minority group she is in.

It's her actions being called out.

Yep and I've said I disagreed with the 2 white female HTs who tried the model in ds first secondary school. And failed.

It's the methods I'm against. I couldn't give a shit about who is implementing them. I don't like them.

I wonder if JP will be more careful tweeting about or to black women from now on

This suggest you think no one should ever challenge anyone because they are of a minority group.

That's a slippery path.

My ds is from a minority group. His behaviour and opinions are challenged. It's healthy.

He can't be seen to always be in the right because he has a rare syndrome.

Yeah and apparently if a teacher accuses someone of racism - always back the teacher there too.

Why are you making it about KPs race.

I didn’t make it about her race, KB talked about unconscious bias, said that she had experienced it in her life and talked about how the tweets made her feel.

I believe that. Like I believe other people who talk about how online abuse or insults makes them feel. I believe Sadiq Khan for instance, it doesn’t mean ‘I am him’, a ‘fan’ or ‘paid by him’ or whatever childish insult people lob.

I’m sure your Ds can be challenged by the way but if he said someone spoke to him on a way that he felt was belittling would you really dismiss his feelings?

Id ds was all over SM tweeting silly things (Eg pictures of abuse I've husbands stating good times), and tweeted a 4 page letter full of inaccuracies and accusations based on his inability to read something properly - then yes. I'd tell him feeling belittled is what goes along with making wild inaccurate accusations.

And in this whole saga you miss a really big picture of events if we just focus on someone's chosen feelings in response rather than the actions of 2 parties - of whom neither come out smelling of roses.

One however is doing a better job of saving their reputation by knowing when to bounce back and keep quiet rather than double down and try and cover your inaccuracies by spouting more.

Even KB has said she doesn't think it was racism.

Why do people talk about deserving belittling due to accusations, when the order of events was the other way around. JP tweet then accusations. But no I wouldn’t want my dc to receive that treatment. No chance. I would talk about being more careful about what you put up in the first place.

Even KB has said she doesn't think it was racism.

And I have used her words. Unconscious bias, so I’m not sure why there’s an issue there.

She gets to define it, I just listened to what she said and believed her.

She is entitled to feel however she feels.

However, she ought to have more sense than to make public, defamatory accusations based on nothing but her feelings and a tweet that she misread.

Kiwano
Not only did Johnson make the appointment knowing of the relevant allegations

And so it would seem did Theresa May.

he hesitated to suspend Pincher after the events in June last year

The Carlton Club allegations were reported 30th June 2022 - Pincher was suspended 1st July 2022 (the following day). Boris Johnson was speaking at the NATO Summit in Madrid 30th June 2022 and hosted Jacinda Ardern in Downing Street 1st July 2022. What is Keir Starmer's excuse for hesitating to take action in relation to several sexual misconduct cases in May this year?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12071975/Pressure-piles-Keir-Starmer-sack-senior-Labour-aide-groped-woman-20s.html
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/11/female-labour-mp-accuses-shadow-minister-of-sexual-assault
https://news.sky.com/story/charlotte-nichols-accuses-labour-of-gaslighting-her-after-mp-criticised-partys-handling-of-sexual-misconduct-claims-12898075

In fact - has Jess Phillips (since this thread is about Jess Phillips) spoken out regarding Labour's poor handling of sexual misconduct claims under Starmer? I can't see anything on her Twitter feed in May/June this year regarding the above links.

he told junior ministers to go out and lie for him

To be fair, that's speculation - particularly in relation to the first statement issued. Do they trot out the standard line of defence in the first instance? Labour seem to; Sir Keir's office have insisted the Labour leader retains a 'zero tolerance' stance on sexual harassment - quoted from the links - not exactly true is it?

characterising his conduct as "unwise" or an "error of judgment"

You missed out "poor judgment" - I posted that as well.

Given that over 50 members of Johnson's cabinet were pushed by all this into resigning

Indeed they did - all the more surprising then, that SNP MPs did not resign en masse over Ian Blackford's handling of a sexual harassment case - which also came to light in June 2022 - involving a former SNP Chief Whip (who was allowed to stay in post for three years with Blackford's blessing) - with allegations that Blackford coerced and intimidated the victim;

https://news.sky.com/story/ian-blackford-snps-westminster-leader-facing-calls-to-resign-over-handling-of-sexual-harassment-case-12638655

No, it wasn't that way round. Criticisms started well before JP's first tweet.

What gives KB the right to define unconscious bias? There is simply no logical or factual basis for what she has said.

itsgettingweird
My ds has experienced unconscious bias due to his disability.
But calling him "that boy" wouldn't make me think it's unconscious bias. As he's male!

The comparison wouldn't be 'that boy' - it would be 'that [ ... ] boy'
'that headteacher woman' , 'that MP woman' , 'that swimming boy' - I don't like any of those those labels.

The tweet prompted the response, ie the letter. I thought the criticism below was it was too slow anyway.

Her right is she gets to say how she feels.

She says she’s experienced unconscious bias in her life, which pretty much everyone agreed was likely.

She knows what that’s like, if she found it belittling then that’s her call.

I agree with part of this pp She is entitled to feel however she feels. but would add and she gets to talk about it.

So anyone can make allegations against whoever they like, without any objective evidence, so long as they ‘feel’ them to be true?