Labour backbench MP Daybreak Butler has been criticised for sharing a put up describing Kemi Badenoch as “the most prominent member of white supremacy’s black collaborator class”.
Ms Butler swiftly deleted her retweet of a remark from British-Nigerian creator Nels Abbey, which he posted on X shortly earlier than the Tory management contest outcome was introduced.
Within the tweet – which he since clarified was satirical – he provided “some handy tips for surviving the immediate surge of Badenochism (i.e. white supremacy in blackface)”.
Ms Butler’s retweet prompted robust criticism by Conservative figures together with Huntingdon MP Ben Overweight-Jecty who claimed Ms Butler was “not alone on the government benches in holding this view of Kemi [Badenoch]”.
“This will be a test to see whether Keir Starmer removes the whip, or effectively condones Butler’s abhorrent approval of this smear,” he added.
Sir Keir Starmer has beforehand suspended the whip from Labour MPs in response to feedback about senior black Conservative politicians.
In 2022, Sir Keir suspended Rupa Huq from the occasion for describing then-chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng as “superficially” black.
Ms Huq apologised and had the whip restored six months later.
Whereas there was no official remark from Labour, the house secretary, Yvette Cooper, instructed LBC this morning that occasion points “are always ones for the whip”.
She stated she didn’t see the put up Ms Butler shared however she “clearly, strongly” disagreed with it.
Ms Cooper stated: “The words that you have read out are clearly appalling and I would strongly disagree with them.
“So, I have not seen the put up. I do not know the circumstances round it however I feel we must always congratulate Kemi Badenoch on her election.
“I will continue to disagree with her on all sorts of issues, but, nevertheless, I congratulate her on her election.”
In later posts, Mr Abbey stated his authentic feedback had been “clearly satirical” and “intended as a sketch”.
He defended Ms Butler – the member for Brent East in northwest London – saying she “may not welcome the ascendancy of an extremely right-wing reactionary black person”.
He added: “Because of stuff like this, which is vehement political disagreement, it is both fair and to be expected that many black people may not view Badenoch as (leader of the opposition) to be a ‘proud moment for our nation’.”
The collection of Ms Badenoch, who beat Robert Jenrick to switch Rishi Sunak because the occasion’s chief, was marked by Sir Keir.
He known as it a “proud moment” for Britain, writing on X: “Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch on becoming the Conservative Party’s new leader.
“The primary Black chief of a Westminster occasion is a proud second for our nation.”
Ms Badenoch is ready to start naming her shadow cupboard forward of its first assembly on Tuesday.
One appointment emerged on Sunday after interim chief whip Stuart Andrew revealed he was being changed by Essex MP Dame Rebecca Harris.
