Newly elected Labour MP speaks out about racial ignorance she's faced in the Commons

Ted Hennessey15 January 2020
WEST END FINAL

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A newly elected Labour MP has spoken out about the racial ignorance she has faced in Parliament.

Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith & Thamesmead, claimed that a Conservative MP put his bag in her hands and asked her to look after it, not realising who she was.

It was just one incident outlined in a string of tweets in which the former councillor shared her experience since being elected.

On another occasion, an MP allegedly confused her with another black MP.

On realising his mistake, he apparently spoke of his shock that there were "more of you”.

Ms Oppong-Asare said: "The other day I was outside the House of Commons chamber talking to [Dr Rosena Allin-Khan] and one of the Tory MPs walked straight to me to put his bag in my hands asking me to look after it.

"In my first week someone came up to me confusing me with another black MP. I said no I’m the other black sista from [Erith and Thamesmead].

"He raised he eyebrows and said wow there more of you.[sic]"

She added: "Last week another MP from another party came over to chat to me about a convo we had before Xmas. I realised a few mins in she got me confused with another black sista.

“I’m thinking I might need to write my name on my forehead as I think some people are really struggling to tell the difference.”

Her party colleague Florence Eshalomi, the newly elected MP for Vauxhall, shared a similar experience, saying: “Girl I also got confused for another black sista MP as we were coming out of the voting lobby…… but I have to admit it was by a fellow Labour MP.

“Guess we all need to wear massive name tags right.”

Labour leadership candidate, Jess Phillips, responded: "Abena you are already making your mark in Parliament as a brilliant force. This experience speaks to so much that is wrong with our parliament and our institutions.

"You should find the Tory who did it next week and ask them to hold your bag and throw your coat in too!"

Dawn Butler, the shadow women and equalities minister, who is running to be deputy leader of the party, said she was once mistaken for a cleaner.

The Labour MP for Brent Central said it was one of “so many incidents” she had encountered since entering Parliament.

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