Row erupts after former Newsnight journalist Paul Mason accuses Tories of racism towards Diane Abbott

Hatty Collier3 June 2017
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A row has erupted after former Newsnight journalist and Jeremy Corbyn supporter Paul Mason suggested the Tories’ jibes at Diane Abbott are racist.

Mr Mason, who also had a stint with Channel 4 News, accused the Conservatives of “dog whistle racism” for their criticism of the Home Secretary.

His comments came after Theresa May raised concerns over Ms Abbott’s record on security during the BBC’s Question Time Special which saw the Prime Minister and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn being quizzed by the public.

After giving an account of her time as Home Secretary, Mrs May said: “And I made sure that we kept the records of criminals and terrorists on the DNA database, whereas Diane Abbott wants to wipe them clean. I don't think that's a good idea because they help us catch criminals."

Diane Abbott being interviewed on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show
PA

She also referenced the Labour politician’s car crash live radio interview in which she was unable to say how much a pledge to increase police officers would cost.

Mr Mason later tweeted: “You know what. It’s time somebody called out the dog whistle racism behind Tory insults to Diane Abbott and I just decided to do it.”

He later became embroiled in a heated exchange with LBC presenter and former Conservative parliamentary candidate Iain Dale on BBC Newsnight about his remarks.

Mr Mason said: “Labour supports the rule of law, anti-terror and the national security of this country.”

LBC presenter Iain Dale and former journalist Paul Mason on BBC Newsnight
BBC Newsnight

Mr Dale hit back: “Talk to Diane Abbott about that, talk to Diane Abbott about that.”

Interrupting, Mr Mason went on: “Why is everybody picking on Diane Abbott? What’s this racism about Diane Abbott?”

Theresa May takes questions during the General Election special
BBC News

Mr Dale said: “She’s unfit to be Home Secretary,” before Mr Mason added: “Why do you hate a black Home Secretary?”

Raising his voice, Mr Dale said: “Here we go, here we go, playing the race card, playing the race card.”

The pair had already clashed earlier in the segment hosted by BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis when Mr Dale called out Mr Mason for questioning the Prime Minister’s health.

Jeremy Corbyn was grilled over Brexit, nuclear weapons and anti-Semitism by the Question Time audience
PA

He said: “You said earlier on the Daily Politics that you thought she was unwell, which I thought was an absolutely disgraceful thing to say. I think you should apologise.”

Mr Mason responded: “I won’t be apologising for anything. Your side is calling my leader a terrorist,” before Mr Dale said: “We haven’t called him a terrorist, we have questioned his terrorist sympathies.”

Former BBC and Channel 4 News journalist Mr Mason added: “She’s terrified of debating and it’s legitimate to ask where is she.”

General Election 2017 Campaign - In pictures

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His racism accusations were ridiculed by senior Conservative James Cleverly, who is defending his seat in the Braintree constituency.

He wrote on Twitter: “You know what. It’s time somebody called out the dog whistle sexism behind Paul Mason’s insults to Theresa May and I just decided to do it.”

During the BBC Question Time Special, the Shadow Home Secretary responded to Mrs May’s criticism by writing: “Desperate stuff by May. Claims I want to wipe DNA database clean. Never said that. Curious that she is singling me out for attack. #BBCQT.”

The Prime Minister came under fire over public sector pay, social care and mental health, as one member of the BBC Question Time audience berated her for "a known track record of broken promises and backtracking".

But she denied she regretted calling a snap election which has seen her opinion poll lead slip from 25 points to five or less, saying the decision showed she had "balls".

Her Labour rival Mr Corbyn was heckled as he refused to say whether he would launch a retaliatory nuclear strike and denied supporting terrorism.

The Standard has contacted the Labour and Conservative parties for comment.

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