Labour MP Vaz accuses Home Secretary of "gaslighting" in racism row
Valerie Vaz has accused the Home Secretary of using her Indian heritage to cast doubt on black communities’ experience of racism.
The Walsall South MP and Shadow Leader of the House is among a group of BAME Labour MPs to write to Priti Patel, saying she had used her own experiences of prejudice to "gaslight" the "very real racism" faced by black people in the UK.
Ms Patel has hit back, saying: "I will not be silenced by Labour MPs who continue to dismiss the contributions of those who don't conform to their view of how ethnic minorities should behave."
The letter was instigated by Bradford West MP and Shadow Community Cohesion Minister Naz Shah, who was once suspended from the Labour Party for anti-Semitic online posts.
It was also signed by Birmingham MPs Preet Kaur Gill, Shabana Mahmood and Khalid Mahmood, as well as senior figures including Diane Abbott.
The letter accused Ms Patel of attempting to "silence" black Labour MP Florence Eshalomi in a Commons debate earlier this week.
The MPs said: "We write to you as black, Asian and ethnic minority Labour MPs to highlight our dismay at the way you used your heritage and experiences of racism to gaslight the very real racism faced by black people and communities across the UK.
"Our shared experiences allow us to feel the pain that communities feel, when they face racism, they allow us to show solidarity towards a common cause; they do not allow us to define, silence or impede on the feelings that other minority groups may face.
"Being a person of colour does not automatically make you an authority on all forms of racism.
"In conclusion, we ask you to reflect on your words and to consider the impact it had towards the black communities in the UK trying to highlight their voices against racism."
It concludes with #BlackLivesMatter.
In a Commons exchange on Monday, Ms Eshalomi called on Ms Patel to "act now" to resolve "structural inequality, discrimination and racism" as thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand change in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
She said the Home Secretary had failed to understand the "anger and frustration" felt by people of colour when she criticised "thuggery" during violent clashes at Black Lives Matter protests.
Ms Patel replied: "Well, on that basis, it must have been a very different Home Secretary who as a child was frequently called a P*** in the playground, a very different Home Secretary who was racially abused in the streets or even advised to drop her surname and use her husband’s in order to advance her career.
"So, when it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance for social justice, I will not take lectures from the other side of the House."
Ms Vaz recently posted a picture of herself on Twitter paying tribute to George Floyd. It featured the caption: "Remembering #GeorgeFloyd @HouseofCommons observed a minute silence. I took the knee."
