Priti Patel understands consequences of racism ‘better than most,’ says Steve Barclay over Tyrone Mings row

(PA)

A senior government minister was forced to defend Priti Patel on Tuesday after she was accused by England footballer Tyrone Mings of “stoking the fire” of racism.

Steve Barclay insisted the Home Secretary was “committed to tackling racism” when quizzed about accusations levelled at her by the England defender.

In June, Ms Patel labelled the team’s taking of the knee as “gesture politics” and said it was up to fans whether they booed the gesture.

She then said she was “disgusted” when England players Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were racially abused on social media after missing their penalties at Sunday night’s Euro 2020 final.

Ms Patel tweeted: “I am disgusted that England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media. It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.”

It led Mr Mings to say: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”

On Tuesday, Mr Barclay spoke in Ms Patel’s defence, saying: “The Home Secretary herself has been the victim of the most appalling online abuse, she understands better than most the consequences of racism.”

Pressed repeatedly over whether Ms Patel’s comments were wrong, he told BBC Breakfast: “The Prime Minister answered this as well yesterday and was very clear we need to respect people making their points in different ways.

“The Home Secretary is making her point by legislating and taking action against extremist groups – using her office as Home Secretary.

“The footballers, quite rightly, were making their point in their way. But ultimately what unites us all is tackling the scourge of racism. That’s what we all agree on.”

He also insisted the Government was taking action on racism and bringing forward legislation through the Online Harms Bill.

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Further heat was piled on the Government as ex-Tory minister Johnny Mercer backed Mr Mings’ comments, saying: “The painful truth is that this guy is completely right.”

Mr Mercer said he was “very uncomfortable” with the position Conservatives were “needlessly” forcing themselves into.

He referred to increasing numbers of children in the care system, adding: “It’s these things we should intervene on, not culture wars.”

A member of the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board said Mr Mings was right to be angry with the Home Secretary for failing to condemn booing of players taking the knee.

Ex-footballer Marvin Sordell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There was an opportunity then to really back the players in what they’re trying to do, what they’re trying to achieve, the positive message that they’re trying to talk about, and yet that was dismissed and people were allowed the opportunity to react negatively to something that was purely positive.”

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What the papers say – July 13

‘You can’t pretend to be disgusted by abuse,’ Mings tells Patel

Starmer criticises PM over delay in condemning booing of England taking knee