Tory MP admits blacking up as James Brown in bizarre defence of Justin Trudeau
3 min read
A Tory MP has come under fire after he admitted blacking up as the singer James Brown for a fancy-dress party.
Sir Desmond Swayne made the revelation as he mounted a bizarre defence of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Mr Trudeau is at the centre of a political scandal after pictures emerged of him having blacked up as Aladdin when he worked as a teacher.
Writing on his website, former minister Sir Desmond said: "I suspect that Justin Trudeau’s cringing apology for blacking himself ‘blinded by his own white privilege’ has done him rather more harm than the original offence.
“It was a themed ‘Arabian Nights’ fancy-dress party for heaven’s sake!”
“It comes to something when you can’t dress-up as Aladdin without attracting the opprobrium of the ‘great and good’.
“He would have done better to have said it was an entirely acceptable bit of fun and refused to apologise.”
Sir Desmond added: “I once went to a ‘Blues Brothers’ themed fancy-dress party as James Brown.
“I went to some trouble to be as authentic as possible. I can assure readers of this column that I have no intention of apologising.”
When confronted with suggestions this was unacceptable behaviour the New Forest West MP refused to back down, telling the Bournemouth Echo: "No one has complained to me about it.”
Asked if would do it again he said: "The reason I wouldn't do it again is because you have to go to some trouble to get it off.
“It's not a non-trivial exercise."
Dawn Butler, Labour’s shadow women’s and equalities secretary, said: "This is another example of a politician not even trying to understand the history of oppression and racism.
“Desmond Swayne has not only admitted to blacking up himself, but is now actively encouraging others to do so.
"The Tories need to explain what action will be taken against him and whether this took place while he was a government minister."
Lib Dem MP Layla Moran said: “Desmond Swayne has shown just how out of touch some elected representatives are, and politicians really do need to set examples that are better than this.
“First and foremost, he should apologise, and send a message that this kind of racial appropriation is not acceptable in a modern, multicultural society.”
Miqdaad Versi from the Muslim Council of Britain said: “Many would argue that this is yet another indication of how more people feel comfortable to be open about their racism, as the discourse has descended so significantly in the past few years.”
Sir Desmond was David Cameron's parliamentary aide for several years before becoming a minister.
He left the Government after Mr Cameron resigned in the wake of the 2016 EU referendum.
The Conservative Chief Whip’s office has been contacted for comment.
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