In defence of Iain Macwhirter

Those of us on the right often sense a form of racism in the protests by some of those on the left who are suspicious of the racial diversity in the Tory front bench. Kemi Badenoch has often spoken about how black politicians who differ from the Labour narrative are accused of somehow betraying their race. Priti Patel has spoken about how much she hates the label ‘BME’ which lumps together all ethnic minorities as if they have more in common with each other than whites (she banned her officials from using it). James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, has said he has been told to ‘go home’ and referred to by a common racial slur: a ‘coconut’. Brown on the outside, white on the inside.

But perhaps the most controversial reaction came from the commentator Iain Macwhirter who wrote on Twitter: ‘A coconut Cabinet?’. The comment, on the face of it, looks appalling.