Labour MP admits copying Obama’s victory speech

A LABOUR frontbencher copied large chunks of Barack Obama’s 2008 victory speech when addressing constituents after being re-elected as an MP, it emerged yesterday.

Parts of Kate Osamor’s address were almost identical to the speech the former US president gave when first elected a decade ago.

But the shadow international development secretary, whose mother was yesterday controversially elevated to the Lords, dismissed accusations of plagiarism by saying her speech was a homage to Mr Obama.

A spokesman said it was ‘so famous it did not need an introduction’.

Miss Osamor was re-elected MP for Edmonton last June with an increased majority of 21,115. The website Politics Home has disclosed that much of what she told the crowd was almost identical to Mr Obama’s speech in his home city of Chicago.

He said: ‘If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.’

Miss Osamor replaced ‘America’ with ‘Edmonton’ and used the phrase ‘who still wonders if the dream of hope is alive in our time’. Other quotes were also repeated.