The Conservatives

[MammaBrussels]

I cannot believe someone, even someone in the Conservative Party, would say this.

How can anyone support them?

Lambeth Council press officer suggests Streatham should be napalmed.

How can anyone support this Labour council after this?

Guardian blames 'Jews' for Ken's defeat in London.

How can anyone read the Guardian after this?

Diane Abbott claims "White people love playing divide and rule.

How can anyone support Labour after this?

Do you see my point?

PMSL at the guardian one. Not quite on a par with the others.

It seems that many MNetteers just love having astroturfy thread titles about certain parties/individuals. Even though the factional point is usually exploded in one or two posts, they keep on coming.

I think the big difference is that the elected official who is supposed to represent the entire community has seen it fit to publicly use incredibly offensive and racist term as a throw away comment. That's the point. An elected representative operating in an open, inclusive democracy using the N word.

MammaBrussels

I think the big difference is that the elected official who is supposed to represent the entire community has seen it fit to publicly use incredibly offensive and racist term as a throw away comment. That's the point. An elected representative operating in an open, inclusive democracy using the N word.

Since when was Diane Abbott not elected? In this 'open, inclusive democracy' should she be saying that 'white people love to play divide and rule'??

If it helps I'm happy to provide you with plenty more examples of inappropriate commentary from elected Labour officials.

Abbot is an elected official but doesn't use racist language unless you think saying 'white people love playing divide and rule' is as bad as using the N word. She was wrong, she generalised the behaviour of a racial group - I'm not defending her, it's bad but not as bad as using the N word. How would you react if someone said that in your presence?

It's an old-fashioned expression but not used any more because it's racially offensive. Like 'welshing on a deal' or toddlers 'having a paddy'. Cricketers can still bowl 'a chinaman' but it's only a matter of time before that gets banned, I'm sure. Older people especially get caught out with these things all the time. As in the Abbott case, an apology should be adequate.

Flatpack, are you serious? Diane Abbot does not hate white people, I have no idea how you can say that.

I find the N word incredibly offensive. There are other words I do not use because I find them offensive, I don't like to see them written down because they then normalise them and encourage usage.

Things are still offensive whether there's an intent to offend or not. Don't you understand that?

Of course Abbot is far worse - she's forever denigrating white people.

The councillor just used an outdated phrase

Sorry but the N word is more than an outdated phrase. It's bloody offensive and has historical connotations. I won't type it because of that.

I don't think Diane Abbot is forever denigrating white people. It's much more subtle than that, when she talks about the racism she's witnessed/ experienced she's accused of racism herself. If you talked about sexism in terms of men's oppression of women you'd be discussing sexism you'd witnesses while being sexist yourself IYSWIM.

Either way, Abbott had to apologise and so does this man. Think it's a storm in a teacup.

MammaBrussels, are you conveniently forgetting this little incident?

It makes me chuckle actually that CallmeDave is expending so much energy changing the Tory party's image " look we are environmentalists, we are street, yo; we think women are lovely," and some dotty old councillor comes out with a phrase like that.

Dave must just sit banging his head on the (Osbourne and Little) desk at night...

Oddly enough Cinnamonnut I used that clip in a politics class (without the racism subtitle) to look at her suitability as a Labour leadership candidate.

An elected official using the word "nigger" in any context is completely unacceptable. There is no way in which anyone could claim ignorance as mitigation.

Ironic, really, that my post explaining the reason that self-censorship is bad for Liberty was censored.

I'm afraid I won't repost my replies since, apparently, we're all too sensitive for grown-up debate. Apparently it's just too offensive to discuss the nature of offence.

I don't know what you said- but you could always repost without being offensive to anyone?[helpful]

I thijnk flatpack's was deleted because she used the N word in full - so I imagine yours will be gone soon too Seeker

Why is any one surprised? this is the party who hate disabled people, so doesn't surprise me they have their share of racist too.

Really? How very odd. Oh well, it will be my first deletion.

Flatpack we're not too sensitive for grown up debate but most grown ups I know can debate without being deliberately offensive.

Flatpack's post was not offensive - it was a very well and intelligently argued point that only quoted the councillor in the story YOU originally posed about Mamma