Cabinet minister Michael Gove has been accused of “sanctioning stereotypes” after quoting the rapper Stormzy in a tweet.
Earlier on Tuesday Mr Gove had responded to Stormzy’s support for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn by claiming the grime artist is “a far, far better rapper than he is a political analyst”.
When shadow education secretary Angela Rayner then tweeted “Michael Gove is crap at both”, Mr Gove, responded: “I set trends dem man copy.”
I set trends dem man copy https://t.co/85mTHXaZDn
— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 26, 2019
Shut Up
The tweet was a direct quote from Stormzy’s 2015 hit Shut Up, but received thousands of reactions, many of them negative.
Labour’s David Lammy accused the Tory minister of “sanctioning crass stereotypes” by “telling an intelligent, successful young black man to stay out of politics”.
The Tottenham MP added: “Challenge stereotypes, don’t compound them.”
Michael Gove sanctioning crass stereotypes after telling an intelligent, successful young black man to stay out of politics. Challenge stereotypes, don't compound them. https://t.co/awYCXkQfZm
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 26, 2019
Verbal equivalent of blackface
Author Chris Brookmyre alleged Mr Gove was “indulging in the verbal equivalent of blackface”.
Fellow writer Malorie Blackman tweeted: “What? Whaaaat? Michael Gove is quoting Stormzy? Seriously? If this isn’t a spoof account, is this supposed to swing more of the ‘yoof’ vote in a Tory direction?”
Ms Rayner simply responded: “Played ya self.”
Stormzy is one of a number of rap artists who have stated their backing for Mr Corbyn at the General Election.
Just Michael Gove indulging in the verbal equivalent of blackface. https://t.co/S5V2YbTYua
— Chris Brookmyre (@cbrookmyre) November 26, 2019
Grime 4 Corbyn
In a post on Instagram encouraging fans to register to vote, last year’s Glastonbury headliner wrote: “I will be registering to vote and I will be voting for Jeremy Corbyn.
“There are several reasons as to why I’m voting for him – I would be here all day if I began to list them…but in my 26 years of life I have never trusted politicians or relied on them to be the bearers of hope and righteous people that we’ve needed them to be.”
Akala, Kano and Professor Green also voiced their support as a campaign by the group Grime 4 Corbyn went viral on social media.
In Tuesday’s interview with Talk Radio, Mr Gove said: “I think we again know that Stormzy, when he took to the stage at Glastonbury wearing a stab vest, he made clear what his political views were then.
“He is a far, far better rapper than he is a political analyst.”
The Conservative Party has been contacted for a response to criticism of Mr Gove’s tweet.
Related: Corbyn says anti-Semitism is ‘vile and wrong’ after Chief Rabbi warning
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