Gransnet forums

News & politics

Should MP be sacked for using " n "word

(161 Posts)
suzied Mon 10-Jul-17 16:50:59

Tory MP Anne-Marie Morris used the phrase "N . In the woodpile" when giving a speech in a meeting in the House of Commons. There are calls for her to be sacked. This is a phrase that even my parents wouldn't have used. I am surprised anyone under 60 knows it. Does she use this phrase at home? She should be severely reprimanded IMHO. Sacked if it happens again .

Primrose65 Tue 11-Jul-17 09:42:17

I think she should resign. This is not the first time she's been associated with this sort of thing. Her partner (who's also her agent) made some really racist remarks during her campaign. This is not the sort of person you want as an MP.

Jalima1108 Tue 11-Jul-17 09:41:31

^Last month, ironically, Ms Morris distanced herself from comments made by her electoral agent and partner - who claimed that the 'crisis in education' was "due entirely to non-British born immigrants and their high birth rates.^"
Anne Marie had faced criticism from both the People's Republic of South Devon and Liberal Democrat candidate Marie Chadwick in regards to the comment, saying that it detracted from the debate and was totally unnecessary.
^But in response, Anne Marie Morris told DevonLive: "I don't share the views expressed by Roger Kendrick.^"

www.devonlive.com/who-is-anne-marie-morris-the-newton-abbot-mp-slammed-for-using-n-word/story-30432719-detail/story.html#EQ3tHXhvsQI4a8lY.99

She's been suspended.

whitewave Tue 11-Jul-17 09:35:06

I know exactly where it is!!!?

Jalima1108 Tue 11-Jul-17 09:30:55

makes you think doesn't it? Yes, it does Rigby46

The point about Newton Abbott (only half in jest) was that a journalist reporting on this matter made an extremely dismissive comment about her constituency Where even is Newton Abbot?. He could not be bothered to find out its location and its demographic and what her constituents think about this. People who are upset and offended by this will include them - after all, she is representing them in Parliament and giving her constituency a bad name.

So yes, in this context, Newton Abbott, its constituents and its location does matter.

And I don't care two hoots if no Gransnetters know where it is, the point is that the journalist should have found out and perhaps asked her constituents whether or not they think she should go or merely be reprimanded.

MaizieD Tue 11-Jul-17 09:28:40

I'm just astounded because I thought that the word had been excised from the English vocabulary. I thought that no-one would even remember that it had existed, let alone use it in any context whatsoever.

I am absolutely gobsmacked that anyone is trying to defend its use.

Having said that, I think resignation calls are quite OTT. She's not the only deeply unpleasant character in Parliament; she just got caught in an unpleasantness too far. I don't like censoring people's speech unless it is hate speech, which this doesn't appear to be. It's just casual (and clearly habitual, else she wouldn't have even thought of the phrase) contempt for the feelings of others. I hope her constituents regret voting for her...

whitewave Tue 11-Jul-17 09:12:27

In my book making racist comments definately makes you a racist.

Rigby46 Tue 11-Jul-17 08:58:29

Making racist comments doesn't make you a racist necessarily but it says something deeply unacceptable about you because how the rest of us supposed to judge? anyway, it's come out that her agent ( her partner) has form as well - makes you think doesn't it?

WilmaKnickersfit Tue 11-Jul-17 08:18:45

I've heard the recording of the incident and what struck me is Morris is only a few years older than me.

I'd never heard the expression outside fiction I'd read. I don't believe the phrase is in use these days and wondered about someone around my age actually using it. If it was someone much older, I could put it down as an example of unacceptable generational behaviour. I think she might have been trying to impress her audience and simply made a bad choice of language.

I don't think it makes her racist. Ignorant maybe.

kittylester Tue 11-Jul-17 07:55:16

I read that Baggs - made me feel better. grin

Nelliemoser Tue 11-Jul-17 07:41:37

Yes! To this about Ann Marie Morris.
Our previous MP made a very cheap racist joke at what in theory a private function but a guest objected and it was reported in the press. Unfortunately I don't think any action was taken back then this couple of MPs eventually retired. There was also concern about some financial goings on.

suzied Tue 11-Jul-17 07:29:07

The origin of the phrase is from slavery when certain races were seen as less than human and treated accordingly. This is why the phrase is unacceptable today. Just because it may have been common parlance in the last century is no excuse, particularly from someone who is supposedly well educated and in public office.

Rigby46 Tue 11-Jul-17 07:24:34

Yyyyy MB and if one more person uses her age (60) as an excuse I shall scream.

MawBroon Tue 11-Jul-17 06:41:56

There is an arrogance in the Westminster "bubble" and IMHO a disregard for what most of us would call standards or decent behaviour. We have seen this on BOTH sides of the House and the callous self seeking contempt shown for the people who pay their salaries makes me sick.
To me it starts at the top, where shocking jibes/jokes etc may not literally feature, but a cold disregard for PEOPLE runs through the actions we experience.
It wasn't just Marie Antoinette who asked why the starving rabble couldn't "eat cake" when they couldn't get bread. There are those who seem to think the sick can "get on their bikes", the homeless can move to whatever part of the country has cheaper housing and that our public sector workers can survive on a1% pay rise while they can vote themselves whatever pay rise they want.
I despair.

NannyTee Tue 11-Jul-17 06:19:48

Well said BlueBelle. If you ask me I would say that most of these politicians are pompous racists. To be said in public is an outrage . It is 2017 for goodness sake . Talk about setting examples to the younger generation. Tut Tut !!!!

BlueBelle Tue 11-Jul-17 06:12:30

Should read others not offered
Oh for an edit button

BlueBelle Tue 11-Jul-17 06:11:40

I think if someone is so insensitive to use such a saying, if someone is so out of touch with modern language and if someone is so ignorant and yes I do mean ignorant they do NOT have any place in ANY leadership position and I don't care what political persuasion they are from I m glad she's suspended and wish she had been sacked on the spot and that goes for that awful awful woman who used the dreadful dreadful Asian joke It just shows how close to the surface racism is
Petra and offers defending her it doesn't matter what context she used it in it's totally inexcusable to use this word in ANY context

Baggs Tue 11-Jul-17 05:48:00

Which I just did. Turns out my vague guess of "somewhere in south-west England" was correct. I will now know this until I forget it again because knowing it is of no particular use to me.

Did you know that forgetting things is actually quite important for maximising brain function? Seriously.

Baggs Tue 11-Jul-17 05:44:43

I don't know where Newton Abbott is either. But I know how to find out.

Baggs Tue 11-Jul-17 05:43:09

petra has a point. From what I've read so far, it seems that Morris used the phrase (phrase, note, not just one word) to refer to an issue of great importance (in this case, what happens if there's no Brexit deal) that isn't being openly or sufficiently discussed.

Meaning matters more than mere words.

Also, what if one were to argue that using the n-word in non-personal ways (yes, really! Morris used the phrase about a thing, and a non-physical thing at that, not about a person or people) is a way of trying to defuse its toxicity. Not that I think Morris used it like that, but still... I'm discussing an idea.

Context matters, even if Morris was a bit of an idiot to use the phrase she did use rather than another.

The whole thing looks like a twitch hunt to me.

Jalima1108 Mon 10-Jul-17 23:41:54

Perhaps the good people of Newton Abbott should decide whether they want her to continue to represent them.

Jalima1108 Mon 10-Jul-17 23:40:28

Some thoughts on this by Stephen Bush in the New Statesman:
www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/07/26-thoughts-anne-marie-morriss-racist-outburst

But then he says:
Where even is Newton Abbot? shock

Not as shocking as using the 'n' word but shocking nonetheless that a supposedly clever and educated journalist DOESN'T KNOW WHERE NEWTON ABBOTT IS!!
Come on Stephen, buck up.

The MP should be reprimanded and made to write an essay as Rigby suggests on the origins of the word and why it is wrong to use it today.

And Stephen needs to draw a large map and fill in towns of interest that are not London.

paddyann Mon 10-Jul-17 22:49:16

has anyone seen the 12th of July bonfire in Antrim with "we're not racist we just hate n....rs "written several times on the Irish flags on the side.Seems Mrs May having the the DUP onboard has given these knuckledraggers the courage to comeout of the woodwork and show their true colours.

Rigby46 Mon 10-Jul-17 22:21:38

There are two aspects here - the use of the n word and the use of the phrase which is a very negative one. What on earth is the point of saying the word was used when you were young? Lots of words were used then that are totally unacceptable now and quite rightly so. The world has moved on thank goodness.

Darnsarf Mon 10-Jul-17 22:10:12

It was when I grew up too Welshwife. In fact it was such a commonly used word that I can recall pets being named that too.

Iam64 Mon 10-Jul-17 22:09:09

It may have been used when most of us were children, that doesn't mean it's acceptable now.
There was still corporal punishment and hanging then, that wouldn't be acceptable now either.
It's indefensible .