Tory party chairman James Cleverly is latest figure to rubbish Megixt racism claims saying Britain is one of the most ‘welcoming countries in the world’
- Co-Tory Party chairman said UK is ‘one of least racist countries in the world’
- Told Marr Meghan’s decision to step down was due to general media attention
- New Labour MP Nadia Whitmore said Megxit is stoking divisions ‘like Brexit’
Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly has become the latest figure to rubbish claims the Duchess of Sussex has been subjected to racist coverage by the British press.
Mr Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the UK is ‘one of the least racist, most open and welcoming countries in the world’.
The Tory MP insisted Meghan and Harry’s decision to step down as senior royals was down to the ‘huge amount of media interest’ that the 38-year-old mother-of-one would have found ‘really difficult to deal with’.
It comes after Laurence Fox’s Question Time showdown with academic Rachel Boyle, which saw him brand her a racist for calling him a ‘white privileged male’ because he does not believe Meghan has fallen victim to racism during her time in the UK.
Co-Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sunday Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has not been subject to racism
The Tory MP insisted Meghan and Harry’s decision to step down as senior royals was down to the ‘huge amount of media interest’ that the 38-year-old mother-of-one would have found ‘really difficult to deal with’. They are pictured outside Canada House this month
Quizzed on the Sussexes plans to step down, he told Sky News: ‘Ultimately this is a decision for them and her majesty the Queen and the royal family.
‘I understand that not everyone wants to live their lives in the media bubble and with that level of intense scrutiny, and that’s completely understandable and I’m glad they’ve clearly come to an arrangement that the Queen is happy with and they’re happy with.’
He declined to comment on security arrangements for the couple and said: ‘We don’t discuss it at all.
‘It’s really important that these arrangements are kept private and so I won’t be drawn on that. The cost implies detail.’
When asked if Meghan was the victim of racism, Mr Cleverly added: ‘I think this country is one of the least racist, one of the most open and welcoming countries in the world and that’s reinforced by things like the British Attitudes Survey and a whole load of international surveys about people’s acceptance of other races.
‘But she was subjected to a huge amount of media interest and that can be really difficult to deal with.’
Soon after on the Andrew Marr Show, newly-elected Labour MP Nadia Whitmore (pictured) said the Sussexes departure from public life is being used to ‘stoke divisions’ in a similar way to Brexit
Nadia Whitmore MP (right with royal correspondent Camilla Tominey left) also claimed Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate’s coverage in the British media have been vastly different, suggesting it is down to racism, adding: ‘What else can you call it’
Soon after on the Andrew Marr Show, newly-elected Labour MP Nadia Whitmore said the Sussexes departure from public life is being used to ‘stoke divisions’ in a similar way to Brexit.
The 23-year-old Nottingham East MP said: ‘What this really speaks to is the culture war happening in this country.
‘I think this is very much like Brexit. We’re seeing it play out like the Brexit debate. Older people are outraged, while younger, more progressive people are overwhelmingly supportive. And it’s being used to stoke division.’
She also claimed Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate’s coverage in the British media have been vastly different, suggesting it is down to racism, adding: ‘What else can you call it’.
She said: ‘Clearly the press has treated Meghan differently to Kate.’
Royal editor for the Daily Telegraph Camilla Tominey argued her and her peers have simply been ‘vindicated’ for when they were reporting on rifts between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family – only to be shot down by Palace officials.
She also said people ‘have very short memories’, recalling Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall’s reception in the press after her relationship with Prince Charles went public.
Ms Tominey said: ‘I think the member of the royal family who has been the most vilified is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. And you can’t put that down to racism.’
Actor Laurence Fox sent Twitter into meltdown after his argument with Edge Hill university academic Rachel Boyle.
The ‘anti-woke bad boy’s’ comments saw some hailing him as a ‘hero’ and ‘bang on the money’ with others slamming him as ‘contemptuous’.
Piers Morgan has also consistently denied any racist treatment of Meghan.
Writing in his MailOnline column, he argued: ‘Meghan and Harry haven’t been criticized because of her color but because she’s a selfish social climber and he’s a weak whiner – and by playing this despicable race card they have grossly libeled all of Britain.’