Dawn Butler
Main Page: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On Saturday, the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby (Sarah Pochin) said:
“It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people”.
The hon. Member also said:
“It doesn’t reflect our society”.
As the MP for Brent East, one of the most diverse constituencies in the UK, let me say that you can be black or brown and be British, so I am completely offended by that comment. It is a racist comment.
Madam Deputy Speaker, can you imagine the constituents of that MP going to see her, knowing that she is a racist? These comments appear to be in breach of the MPs’ code of conduct, in particular the seven principles of public life—
Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)
Order. Can the hon. Lady please reflect on her language and withdraw the remark about another hon. Member in this place?
Dawn Butler
Madam Deputy Speaker, the comment that I referred to is absolutely a racist comment. Can we not call out that comment in this House? It is in breach of the Nolan principles for MPs. I want to know if you can help me in ensuring that—
Madam Deputy Speaker
Order. For clarity’s sake, the issue is the calling of a Member of this House a racist.
Dawn Butler
Madam Deputy Speaker, let me just quote again what the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby said:
“It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people…It doesn’t reflect our society”.
Madam Deputy Speaker, that is a racist comment, and it is against the Nolan principles. How can we ensure that Members of Parliament—
Madam Deputy Speaker
Order. It is not about the comment that the hon. Member is referring to; it is the fact that she called the Member in question a racist that is an issue. Can she please reflect on her remarks, in which she has called a Member of this House a racist, and stick to the comments being racist instead? It may be that the hon. Member considers that to be dancing on the head of a pin, but it is important that we all act with respect and set an example to the country.
Dawn Butler
This is giving me déjà vu. I appreciate that in this House, we are not supposed to be disrespectful and call Members of Parliament what they actually are. Ultimately, the comment is a racist comment. It is quite strange that I am unable to call out the Member for being a racist, after she has made a racist comment.
Madam Deputy Speaker
Order. I am having to say this time and again—can you please consider withdrawing the comment about a Member of this House being a racist?
Dawn Butler
Madam Deputy Speaker, I do not want to be thrown out of Parliament—again—so I will withdraw the fact that I am referring to the Member of Parliament as a racist because of her racist comments.
Madam Deputy Speaker
Has the hon. Member informed the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby that she intended to refer to her in the Chamber?
Madam Deputy Speaker
The Chair is not responsible for comments made by individual Members outside of this place. If the hon. Member considers that there has been a breach of the code of conduct, the proper procedure is to complain to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.