Priti Patel reveals horrific racial abuse she has suffered in powerful Commons blast at Labour

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PRITI Patel has revealed the horrific racial abuse she has suffered in a powerful Commons blast at Labour.

The Home Secretary last night shared her own experiences of racism after being accused of not understanding people’s anger.

Priti Patel detailed her own experiences of racism in a moving speech

Labour’s Florence Eshalomi had laid into Ms Patel and questioned if the Government were doing anything to deal with racism.

In a stunning rebuke, Ms Patel then laid bare her own experiences, and claimed Labour “effectively said that this government doesn’t understand racial inequality”.

She continued: “Well, on that basis, it must have been a very different home secretary who as a child was frequently called a P**i in the playground.

“A very different home secretary who was racially abused in the streets or even advised to drop her surname and use her husband’s in order to advance her career.

“A different home secretary recently characterised in The Guardian newspaper as a fat cow with a ring through its nose – something that was not only racist but offensive, both culturally and religiously.

“This is hardly an example of respect, equality, tolerance or fairness.

“So, when it comes to racism, sexism, tolerance for social justice, I will not take lectures from the other side of the House.”

Her comments came as Ms Patel responded to the violent scenes that saw police chased through the streets of London by Black Lives Matter protesters as peaceful demonstrations turned sour.

The Home Secretary last night laid into the “thugs” who threw fireworks at police in Whitehall and damaged the statue of Britain’s war hero.

She said: “This hooliganism is utterly indefensible.

“There is no justification for it, no excuse for pelting flares at brave officers, throwing bikes at police horses, attempting to disrespect the cenotaph, or vandalising the statue of Winston Churchill.

“The criminals responsible for these acts are betraying the cause they purport to serve.

“These protests are about justice, but in attacking our brave police they are acting in a wholly unjust way.”

Ms Patel also promised everyone who attacked the officers would be prosecuted.

Police and protesters clashed during a Black Lives Matter protest
The Churchill statue is defaced
A protester uses a lighter as tries to set the flag on the Cenotaph on fire in Whitehall

Sunday’s peaceful protests, which were spoiled by a minority of thugs, took place outside the US Embassy in a response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month.

Dramatic pictures show crowds holding up signs reading “Black Lives Matter” as they chant the name of the movement.

The past few days have seen activists in face masks holding placards reading “I can’t breathe” to echo the final words of Floyd after white police officer Derek Chauvin held him down by kneeling on his neck.

Others have taken a kneel in solidarity with those of who have accused police of brutality on a global scale.

Protests in London and the rest of the UK have mostly been peaceful throughout the weekend.

They made their way to Whitehall across Vauxhall Bridge as the protest continues.

The Winston Churchill statue was defaced for a second day in a row during the protests in London.

Churchill’s name was crossed out and in black spray paint ‘was a racist’ was written underneath.

A further 4,000 people have descended on a gathering in Bristol and peaceful demonstrations are also being held in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Another will take place this evening in Oxford.