Author who called Priti Patel an 'immigrant', responds to criticism

A British columnist, Brendan O'Neill, has been subject to intense criticism, as he recently called British Home Secretary, Priti Patel, an immigrant in an article that he had written based on Preeti's interaction with Andrew Marr on his BBC TV show. The article prompted instant reactions from different parts of the world.

Netizens in support of Priti Patel

One user called this incident as something very awful and pointed out that the secretary was born in the UK.

Another user posted a tweet that talked about the hypocritical nature of talking about racism and calling the person an Immigrant. 

One more user how irrelevant it was to subject Priti Patel to unnecessary accusations 

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Brendan O'Neill's defence

Brendan in his defence stated that he was also a first-generation Britisher like Ms Priti and said he used the word Immigrant to classify new people coming to the UK to settle down. He further talked about how he had used the same word in his essay 'Bad Immigrant' and no one pointed it out then. O'Neill, further added he also came from a working-class immigrant family in which the word was continuously used to describe his family members who came to settle down in the UK and their predecessors as well.

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How it all started

This all reportedly started with Brendan writing an article describing TV host, Andrew Marr, asking Priti Patel as to why she was laughing when he was talking to her about the consequences of a no-deal Brexit. Although Priti's face was in a resting position, a few people claimed she had a "creepy smirk". One individual stated that resembled a villain and another called her a "sociopath", showcasing a paternalistic and a sexist environment against the Home Secretary. There were other degrading comments that said she needed a lesson on how to be a "good" immigrant citizen in the 21st-century United Kingdom.

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(With inputs from agencies)