Published 20:26 IST, October 17th 2019
Author who called Priti Patel an 'immigrant', responds to criticism
A British columnist, Brendan O'Neill, has been subject to intense criticism, as he called Home Secretary, Priti Patel, an immigrant in an article he had written
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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.
Oh dear this is abysmal. "Immigrant" Priti Patel was born in London https://t.co/ywkUgqEizb
— Arj Singh (@singharj) October 15, 2019
Another user posted a tweet that talked about the hypocritical nature of talking about racism and calling the person an Immigrant.
Quite incredible to make accusations of racism while branding someone who was born in Britain an immigrant. https://t.co/OuzhpLGHeb
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) October 15, 2019
One more user how irrelevant it was to subject Priti Patel to unnecessary accusations
Well a) she isn’t an immigrant, and that is never relevant, and b) people hate what she has done. Maybe the problem is how you see her.
— Robin Shipston (@RobinShipston) October 15, 2019
Read: Priti Patel, Alok Sharma And Rishi Sunak: 3 Indian-origin Ministers In UK PM Boris Johnson's Cabinet
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.
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.
(With inputs from agencies)
19:10 IST, October 17th 2019