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Boris Johnson attacked over Obama 'part-Kenyan' comment Boris Johnson attacked over Obama 'part-Kenyan' comment
(35 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has come under fire for comments about President Barack Obama's "part-Kenyan" ancestry. Boris Johnson has faced a barrage of criticism over comments about President Barack Obama's "part-Kenyan" ancestry.
Writing in the Sun, the London mayor criticises Mr Obama's call for Britain to remain in the EU, calling it "downright hypocritical".Writing in the Sun, the London mayor criticises Mr Obama's call for Britain to remain in the EU, calling it "downright hypocritical".
He suggests Mr Obama may have an "ancestral dislike of the British Empire" because of his own heritage.He suggests Mr Obama may have an "ancestral dislike of the British Empire" because of his own heritage.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused him of "dog whistle racism" and called on him to withdraw the comment.Shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused him of "dog whistle racism" and called on him to withdraw the comment.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he thought Mr Obama "bears a bit of a grudge" against the UK.UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he thought Mr Obama "bears a bit of a grudge" against the UK.
Responding to Mr Johnson's comments, a spokesman for the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign said: "Desperate, shameful stuff from Boris mentioning Obama's Kenyan ancestry. Why does that matter, exactly?"Responding to Mr Johnson's comments, a spokesman for the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign said: "Desperate, shameful stuff from Boris mentioning Obama's Kenyan ancestry. Why does that matter, exactly?"
Sir Stephen Wall, Britain's former permanent representative to the EU, who is campaigning for a Remain vote, said: "Boris Johnson's comment implying the President of the United States is driven by his ancestral dislike of the British empire is demeaning to the debate.Sir Stephen Wall, Britain's former permanent representative to the EU, who is campaigning for a Remain vote, said: "Boris Johnson's comment implying the President of the United States is driven by his ancestral dislike of the British empire is demeaning to the debate.
"Using that type of language does not reflect Britain's standing in the world or the country we aspire to be.""Using that type of language does not reflect Britain's standing in the world or the country we aspire to be."
Mr Obama kicked off a three day visit to the UK with an article in The Daily Telegraph backing Britain's membership of the EU.Mr Obama kicked off a three day visit to the UK with an article in The Daily Telegraph backing Britain's membership of the EU.
'Deeply anti-democratic''Deeply anti-democratic'
Mr Johnson, who is campaigning for Britain to leave the EU in the referendum on 23 June, has argued that America would never give up control of its own affairs in the way that the UK has done as a member of the EU.Mr Johnson, who is campaigning for Britain to leave the EU in the referendum on 23 June, has argued that America would never give up control of its own affairs in the way that the UK has done as a member of the EU.
In his Sun column, he says: "It is deeply anti-democratic - and much as I admire the United States, and much as I respect the president, I believe he must admit that his country would not dream of embroiling itself in anything of the kind. In his Sun column, he says: "It is deeply anti-democratic, and much as I admire the United States, and much as I respect the president, I believe he must admit that his country would not dream of embroiling itself in anything of the kind.
"It is incoherent. It is inconsistent, and yes it is downright hypocritical. The Americans would never contemplate anything like the EU, for themselves or for their neighbours in their own hemisphere. Why should they think it right for us?""It is incoherent. It is inconsistent, and yes it is downright hypocritical. The Americans would never contemplate anything like the EU, for themselves or for their neighbours in their own hemisphere. Why should they think it right for us?"
Mr Johnson refers in his article to the removal of a bust of Sir Winston Churchill from the Oval Office when Mr Obama became president.Mr Johnson refers in his article to the removal of a bust of Sir Winston Churchill from the Oval Office when Mr Obama became president.
"No-one was sure whether the president had himself been involved in the decision," he said."No-one was sure whether the president had himself been involved in the decision," he said.
"Some said it was a snub to Britain. Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan president's ancestral dislike of the British Empire - of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender.""Some said it was a snub to Britain. Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan president's ancestral dislike of the British Empire - of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender."
'Tea Party rhetoric''Tea Party rhetoric'
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Farage said: "I think Obama, because of his grandfather and Kenya and colonisation, I think Obama bears a bit of a grudge against this country."Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Farage said: "I think Obama, because of his grandfather and Kenya and colonisation, I think Obama bears a bit of a grudge against this country."
Stories about the removal of the Churchill bust were described by the White House in 2012 as "100% false".Stories about the removal of the Churchill bust were described by the White House in 2012 as "100% false".
"The bust still in the White House. In the Residence. Outside the Treaty Room," a senior adviser said in a rebuttal."The bust still in the White House. In the Residence. Outside the Treaty Room," a senior adviser said in a rebuttal.
Shadow international development secretary Ms Abbott accused Mr Johnson of indulging in the kind of anti-Obama language favoured by right-wingers in America who have spread conspiracy theories about whether he is a natural-born US citizen. Shadow international development secretary Diane Abbott accused Mr Johnson of indulging in the kind of anti-Obama language favoured by right-wingers in America who have spread conspiracy theories about whether he is a natural-born US citizen.
She said: "Boris dismissing President Obama as 'half-Kenyan' reflects the worst Tea Party rhetoric". "Boris dismissing President Obama as 'half-Kenyan' reflects the worst Tea Party rhetoric," she said.
John McDonnell tweeted: "Mask slips again. Boris part-Kenyan Obama comment is yet another example of dog whistle racism from senior Tories. He should withdraw it."John McDonnell tweeted: "Mask slips again. Boris part-Kenyan Obama comment is yet another example of dog whistle racism from senior Tories. He should withdraw it."
Labour MP Chuka Umunna said Mr Johnson's comments were "beyond the pale". Green Party MP Caroline Lucas added her voice to the criticism, tweeting: "Just appalling from Boris Johnson. No place in the #EUref debate for this kind of desperate bigotry."
"Once again we see the ugly face of the Tory Party. The nasty party is back," he added.
Former Lib Dem leader Lord Campbell said Mr Johnson's comments were "an unacceptable smear".Former Lib Dem leader Lord Campbell said Mr Johnson's comments were "an unacceptable smear".
American citizenshipAmerican citizenship
He said: "Many people will find Boris Johnson's loaded attack on President Obama's sincerity deeply offensive. "Many people will find Boris Johnson's loaded attack on President Obama's sincerity deeply offensive," he said.
"If this is an illustration of the kind of diplomacy that we might expect from a Johnson leadership of the Tory Party then heaven help us.""If this is an illustration of the kind of diplomacy that we might expect from a Johnson leadership of the Tory Party then heaven help us."
Pro-EU Conservative MP Nicholas Soames - the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill - said Mr Johnson was being "even more unreliable and idle about the facts than usual".Pro-EU Conservative MP Nicholas Soames - the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill - said Mr Johnson was being "even more unreliable and idle about the facts than usual".
A Churchill bust lent to President George Bush by Tony Blair was removed from the Oval Office along with other art lent to the Bush presidency after Mr Obama's 2009 inauguration "as is common practice at the end of every presidency", the White House said at the time.A Churchill bust lent to President George Bush by Tony Blair was removed from the Oval Office along with other art lent to the Bush presidency after Mr Obama's 2009 inauguration "as is common practice at the end of every presidency", the White House said at the time.
A separate bust of Britain's wartime leader, that has been in the White House since the early 1960s, remains on display.A separate bust of Britain's wartime leader, that has been in the White House since the early 1960s, remains on display.
Boris Johnson, who penned a best-selling biography of Churchill, was born in New York but recently said he intends to renounce his American citizenship to prove his "commitment to Britain".Boris Johnson, who penned a best-selling biography of Churchill, was born in New York but recently said he intends to renounce his American citizenship to prove his "commitment to Britain".