Diane Abbott faces calls to resign over 'racist' tweet that says 'white people love to play divide and rule'

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON

Abbott's comment about 'divide and rule' have caused a Twitter storm with users calling for her resignation

Black MP Diane Abbott is facing calls to quit over a remark on Twitter that has been deemed racist against white people.
The shadow minister for public health said during a conversation about the sentencing of Stephen Lawrence's murderers that 'white people love to play "divide and rule",' adding 'we should not play their game'.
The tweet came with a hashtag that spelt out 'tactic as old as colonialism'.
Her comment was made to freelance journalist Bim Adewunmi, another Twitter user who had been commenting about the sentencing of Gary Dobson and David Norris for Stephen's murder.

The full conversation between Diane Abbott and freelance journalist, Bim Adewunmi following the sentencing of Stephen Lawrence's killers

Ms Abbott responded this morning saying that her comment had been 'taken out of context'

Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi has today called for Abbott to quit, saying: 'A healthy society should not tolerate any form of racism. DAbott should apologise and resign or EdM must sack her.
'DAbbott of all people should lead by example. Must resign.'

Abbott gave a short interview on Sky News this morning where she repeated that her comments had been taken out of context

The vocal MP, who appeared on BBC's This Week until she stood for the Labour leadership, took a phone call mid-interview

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called on Ms Abbott to explain herself. He said: 'I think what Diane Abbott said was just stupid and crass generalisation.'
Mr Miliband told Ms Abbott that the remark was unacceptable, shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said.
'The contents of the tweet were clearly unacceptable and Diane has, of course, therefore unreservedly apologised for that,' he told BBC News.

Duncan Bannatyne said that he believes Diane Abbott's displayed a lack of common sense

The Twitter storm erupted yesterday when Abbot, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, responded to Ms Adewunmi who had been tweeting about the Stephen Lawrence trial.
Ms Adewunmi initially wrote 'I do wish everyone would stop saying "the black community" though. WHICH ONE?'

Diane Abbott has faced criticism in the past over her decision to send her son to a private school

After reading feedback from her followers she then clarified her comment saying 'I hate the generally lazy thinking behind the use of the term. Same for "black community leaders".'
In response Abbott said that Ms Adewunmi was playing to a 'divide and rule' agenda.
She added: 'Ethnic communities that show more public solidarity & unity than black people do much better #dontwashdirtylineninpublic'.
'I am not talking cultural differences. I am talking political tactics. #dontwashdirtylineninpublic.'
Following the Twitter storm, Abbott posted another tweet to say that her comments had been 'taken out of context'.



source: dailymail