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Boris Johnson was not racist about Barack Obama, says Iain Duncan Smith | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Boris Johnson was not racist to suggest Barack Obama’s Kenyan heritage gave him an “ancestral dislike” of Britain, Iain Duncan Smith has said. | Boris Johnson was not racist to suggest Barack Obama’s Kenyan heritage gave him an “ancestral dislike” of Britain, Iain Duncan Smith has said. |
The former Cabinet minister said the outgoing Mayor of London had made a “correct” point and that there was “no way” he could be described as racist. | The former Cabinet minister said the outgoing Mayor of London had made a “correct” point and that there was “no way” he could be described as racist. |
Writing in The Sun newspaper on Friday Mr Johnson suggested the US president had moved a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office as a “snub to Britain”. | Writing in The Sun newspaper on Friday Mr Johnson suggested the US president had moved a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office as a “snub to Britain”. |
This could represent “a symbol of the part-Kenyan President’s ancestral dislike of the British empire,” he wrote. | This could represent “a symbol of the part-Kenyan President’s ancestral dislike of the British empire,” he wrote. |
But asked about the comments on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, fellow Leave campaigner Mr Duncan Smith said Mr Johnson had made a “correct” point. | But asked about the comments on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, fellow Leave campaigner Mr Duncan Smith said Mr Johnson had made a “correct” point. |
“I think that there’s nothing worse that demeans politics than when another politician jumps up and down and in losing an argument wants to hurl a name like “racist” at people. I find that absurd,” he said. | “I think that there’s nothing worse that demeans politics than when another politician jumps up and down and in losing an argument wants to hurl a name like “racist” at people. I find that absurd,” he said. |
“I think he’s correct in this regard: What he said was the president of the US… he simply referred to one of the reasons why he may have a particular lack of regard for the UK. | “I think he’s correct in this regard: What he said was the president of the US… he simply referred to one of the reasons why he may have a particular lack of regard for the UK. |
“I know Boris very well and in no way can you describe him as [racist]. He has fought against any kind of racism time and time again, as I have. | “I know Boris very well and in no way can you describe him as [racist]. He has fought against any kind of racism time and time again, as I have. |
“He was trying to illustrate the reality: he is the president of the US, this president came over to the UK and appeared to be lecturing British citizens as to what they should do in the forthcoming referendum.” | “He was trying to illustrate the reality: he is the president of the US, this president came over to the UK and appeared to be lecturing British citizens as to what they should do in the forthcoming referendum.” |
Both Mr Duncan Smith and Mr Johnson are campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union. | Both Mr Duncan Smith and Mr Johnson are campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union. |
During his visit to the UK last week Mr Obama warned that the UK could not immediately expect to sign a free trade deal with the US if it left the EU. | During his visit to the UK last week Mr Obama warned that the UK could not immediately expect to sign a free trade deal with the US if it left the EU. |
He clarified Mr Johnson’s retelling of the anecdote about the Winston Churchill bust, explaining that he still had a different bust of the former British prime minister at the entrance to his private office in the White House. | He clarified Mr Johnson’s retelling of the anecdote about the Winston Churchill bust, explaining that he still had a different bust of the former British prime minister at the entrance to his private office in the White House. |
Britain will vote in a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union on 23 June this year. | Britain will vote in a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union on 23 June this year. |
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