Rory Stewart is forced to say sorry for calling rap musicians minor gangsters
WOULD-be London Mayor Rory Stewart was forced into a humiliating apology last night after describing black East London men as ‘minor gangsters’.
The former Tory turned independent MP was accused of racism after it emerged that the men were Irish musicians.
Mr Stewart made the gaffe last week when he told an audience about the encounter during his summer campaign to take over as Tory leader from Theresa May.
Mr Stewart was filmed talking to the men in Brick Lane, with one of them saying: ‘I don’t f*** with politics man,’ after Mr Stewart told them he was a politician. They then leave while making gestures at the camera.
Mr Stewart recalled: ‘One thing about social media is that it allows people to see politicians listening… I can go to Brick Lane and three sort of minor gangsters can come up to me and spend a minute telling me I’m an idiot. And I can film it and put it up. And people love watching people being rude to politicians.’
But on Friday, the ‘minor gangsters’ revealed they were Irish musicians. Speaking t o The
Guardian, the men – members of the rap group Hare Squead – voiced their anger at how Mr Stewart – now an independent candidate to take over as London’s Mayor next year – had labelled them.
Lilo Blues, one of the musicians, said: ‘It’s just another example of another weirdo white man trying to take advantage of black boys when it’s convenient, then ridiculing them. That guy needs to apologise. He wants to seem like the people’s man, mixing with people from diverse backgrounds, but… now he’s trying to chat s*** about us… I’m not a gangster, I’m not pretending to be and I’m not going to let some corny, goofy-looking man say I am.’
Mr Stewart tweeted: ‘I am very sorry t owards t he guys and towards everyone else. I was wrong. I hope anyone who has watched the video will understand
I was describing a light-hearted encounter in which some men were – completely understandably – gently mocking me. I was trying to describe the incident to an audience that hadn’t seen the video.’
But Labour Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: ‘This is racism. And it i s completely shameful, especially when it comes from someone running to be the mayor of our diverse and multicultural capital city.’