AN SNP MP made an impassioned speech on racist abuse on social media and called for a full debate on the issue in the House of Commons.
Anum Qaisar-Javed detailed some of the vile abuse that has been directed at her on social media - including being told to “f*** off home” despite being born in Edinburgh.
The MP for Airdrie and Shotts pointed out that she is not “unique”, particularly after the torrent of abuse recieved by three black England players after they missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final last week.
Qaisar-Javed called for “real action” and for the Leader of the House, Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, to allow a full debate on the issue so MPs of colour can contribute.
READ MORE: England players racially abused after defeat to Italy in Euro final
Rees-Mogg did not immediately agree to the debate, and instead critised Qaisar-Javed for making the issue “party political” after she called out the UK government for “encouraging” a false narrative “built upon prejudice and assumptions”.
During Business Questions to the Leader of the House Rees-Mogg this afternoon, Qaisar-Javed opened her speech by warning there were “offensive remarks” in it but that the Speaker had been given advance notice of its contents.
She said: “On social media, I’ve been told I shouldn’t be involved in politics because I’m not a Brit, I’m a p***. That is ofcourse wrong on both accounts, I’m neither a Brit nor a p*** I'm a proud Scot.
“On social media I’ve also been told to f*** off home, that of course doesn’t make sense - I was born in Edinburgh, Scotland is my home.
“I’m not unique however in any sense, and we saw this with the racial horrific abuse that black England players recieved on social media.
“Every day, people are racially abused online because of a false narrative built upon prejudice and assumptions, one that ministers in this government have encouraged, I'm afraid to say.
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“Yesterday the Prime Minister admitted that there’s a systematic issue of racism, particularly on social media. The House may be united against racism but we need to see real action.
“What does the government intend to do about this? I therefore ask, there was an urgent question yesterday, will the Leader of the House make time for an urgent debate next week in this chamber so that MPs of colour can also raise their contributions?”
READ MORE: WATCH: Ian Blackford calls out Boris Johnson for past racist language at PMQs
Rees-Mogg replied by saying the way Qaisar-Javed has been treated on social media is “appalling” and that anyone who sends such racist abuse should “crawl back from under the rock from which they came”.
However, he did not confirm if a debate will be allowed to go ahead, and instead turned his attention to social media companies.
Rees-Mogg said: “I’m sorry that the Honourable lady wishes to make this party political because I really think it isn’t.
“I think it is something that the whole House has been outraged by the way which she has been treated, and there is action being taken as the Prime Minister set out yesterday, he had discussions with the social media companies to remind them of their responsibilities and what will happen under the online safety bill if they do not live up to their responsibilities.
“Social media is regrettably a sewer, and some of the most disgusting bits of life get washed through it but it is a sewer that is in need of cleansing.”
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