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Liam McBurney

Democratic Unionist Party MP criticised for 'race-baiting' social media post

Campbell made the post on 31 January complaining about the BBC’s Songs of Praise.

A DUP MP has received criticism for a “race-baiting” social media post, after he complained about the number of black people on an episode of BBC’s Songs of Praise.

Gregory Campbell, a Democratic Unionist Party MP for East Derry, made the post on 31 January where he complained about an episode of Song’s of Praise, saying that it was “BBC at it’s BLM worst.”

Groups which represent ethnic minorities have condemned Campbell, alongside other politicians in Northern Ireland.

In his post, Campbell referenced the fact that there were five black singers, three black judges and a black presenter. 

“The singers were all very good but can you imagine an all white line up with an all white jury and presented by a white person?,” said Campbell in his post.

Cap

North West Migrants Forum (NWMF), a charity which works with asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants and refugees, condemned Campell in a statement.

“It is both astonishing and shocking that Mr Campbell watched this deeply moving edition of Songs of Praise, full of love and praise for God, and saw only skin colour

“Is he uncomfortable watching a programme where Black British people and culture are celebrated centre-stage? Did he think the BBC was racist when other programmes – night after night, decade after decade – only featured white people?

It is alarming that a political leader thinks it appropriate to use this kind of race-baiting to secure some sort of perceived political advantage, regardless of the consequences.

NWMF called the post “deeply irresponsible” and said that Campbell cannot go unchallenged as the “potential costs are too high”.

“Black and ethnic minority people are not ‘other’; they are equal citizens in an increasingly diverse country, including in Mr Campbell’s constituency. ”

The group called on him to withdraw his post and to publicly apologize to the black and ethnic minority community in Northern Ireland.

The post comes three weeks after an arson attack on the Belfast Multicultural Association, which has been treated as a hate crime by the PSNI.

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter, who shares the same constituency as Campbell, said that “if he’s a fan of Songs of Praise, perhaps he should demonstrate real Christian values.”

The post by Campbell has not been taken down from his Facebook page as of publication.

The DUP has been contacted for comment, but none has been received at the time of publication.

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:49 PM

    DUP showing its true colours,
    This seems to be only a surprise to people in the rest of the UK

    804
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    Mute Joe Johnson
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    Feb 7th 2021, 8:18 PM

    @Barry Somers: And why is anyone surprised one word sums them up Bigots. Nationalists had to put up with this shxt for 100years in the 6 counties.

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    JG
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    Mute JG
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    Feb 7th 2021, 8:39 PM

    @Barry Somers: they have always shown their colour.. And that is White, with no place for any other colour. They continuously display, ignorance, bigotry and ill placed loyalty to a crown that wouldn’t p1ss on them of they were on fire. They (and others like them) are the reason that Northern Ireland is a basket case and will remain so as long as they are elected to any assembly/Parliament.

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    Mute Niall O
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    Feb 7th 2021, 9:07 PM

    @Joe Johnson: Surely another reason their support is falling away in the polls?

    35
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    Mute frank griffin
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    Feb 7th 2021, 10:16 PM

    @Barry Somers: no surprise with Campbell

    46
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    Mute Kevin
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    Feb 7th 2021, 11:29 PM

    @Barry Somers:

    Another mummified political revenant from the party with a manifesto straight out of the 17th century. F€&k ‘em.

    47
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    Mute Insider at RTE
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:48 PM

    And people are surprised???

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    Mute Tom Leddy
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:56 PM

    The DUP were contacted for a comment and none was received at the time of publication. That doesn’t surprise me because to the DUP there was nothing wrong with the comment. We know they have no tolerance for any other religious or ethnic groups.

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    Mute David Clements
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:54 PM

    DUP gonna DUP! A v1le little bit of pseudo imperialist little englander g4rbage. A resigning matter in the republic. A reason to vote for him in some parts of the North.

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    Mute James McErlain
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    Feb 8th 2021, 1:54 AM

    @David Clements: Ireland is Ireland’s name and has been since 1937. It has never been called Republic of anything. You’ve obviously been contaminated by British propaganda.
    FYI in 1949 the British had the arrogance to pass a law at the behest of the half crown loyalist terrorists in the North, stating that Ireland shall in future be known as the Republic of Ireland

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    Mute Sandra Duffy
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    Feb 8th 2021, 9:19 AM

    @James McErlain: On a comment differentiating between the two sections of the Island it is perfectly appropriate to call one the North or NI and the other the Republic or ROI. I do it all the time.

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    Mute Paul Whitehead
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:54 PM

    Campbell has always expressed racist views. Why is anyone surprised?

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    Feb 7th 2021, 7:00 PM

    These lot never fail to lower the bar. They’re lower than a snake’s bàlls

    236
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    Mute WreckDefier
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    Feb 7th 2021, 9:19 PM

    @Sean Murnin: didnt know that said species possessed those attributes

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    Mute Sean Murnin
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    Feb 8th 2021, 8:26 AM
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    Mute John Quill
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    Feb 7th 2021, 7:19 PM

    It’s not only taigs and free staters they hate .

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    Mute Local Ore
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    Feb 7th 2021, 7:24 PM

    And people in the North will continue to vote for the DUP.
    This sort of thing from the DUP MLAs isn’t shocking anymore, it’s expected. A party that’s happy to include bigots and racists openly.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:59 PM

    Not permitted to say what he is ffs.

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    Mute Padraig O'Shea
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    Feb 7th 2021, 9:51 PM

    Well he has a point there would b uproar if it were other way around

    54
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    Mute Liam Edward Harris
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    Feb 8th 2021, 9:03 AM

    @Padraig O’Shea: no there wouldn’t. I’ve watched countless panel shows across British tv and there has more often than not been an entirely white cast on them. Shows without a single POC make it to air several times a day. Eventually, yes, people will point out that it’s a bit mad that there isn’t a single POC around, were they all busy? But it takes literally one show, just one, to not feature a single white person and it is immediately an issue.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Feb 8th 2021, 4:16 PM

    @Padraig O’Shea: No he doesn’t, and he should go back to watching a black&white television set.

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    Mute Alex Marquis
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    Feb 7th 2021, 7:43 PM

    At “it’s” BLM worst really, Mr curried yogurt? Looks like Mr cr00ked mouth’s English is as good as his Irish.

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    Mute Vonvonic
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    Feb 7th 2021, 7:25 PM

    Look at the big racist head up on him. I find it kind of amusing him getting all upset about something like this. Proper little snowflake.

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    Mute Geoff Scargill
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    Feb 7th 2021, 7:45 PM

    They don’t know they don’t know! Negative crass. Unfortunately all too typical of the DUP.

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    Mute Muckser Maher
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    Feb 7th 2021, 7:20 PM

    Bottom feeder tripe from someone who knows better. Really low comment and he should really be ashamed.
    I would be and so would his social contacts. No class.

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Feb 7th 2021, 8:19 PM

    Isn’t that the ‘curry my yoghurt’ count – https://youtu.be/CMcX7k5S53g

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    Mute Tipp Bhoy
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    Feb 7th 2021, 8:01 PM

    It seems anytime that man moves his lips noting but bile pours out

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    Mute Peter Murphy
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    Feb 7th 2021, 11:14 PM

    One word Bigot.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:59 PM

    He is one

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Feb 8th 2021, 9:21 AM

    @Paul Mc: the head of the actor James Woods in that photo

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    Mute frank griffin
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    Feb 7th 2021, 10:18 PM

    Typical on Campbell

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    Mute Diarmuid Kelly
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    Feb 8th 2021, 12:23 PM

    Campbell’s problem is that, regardless of claims to the contrary and flag waving, he is considered Irish by the vast majority of people in GB. And these POC will be considered more British than he will ever be.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Feb 7th 2021, 6:59 PM

    He is one

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    Mute Chris Gaffney
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    Feb 8th 2021, 7:50 AM

    A bad egg in a bad box of eggs!

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    Mute Brian James Moss
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    Feb 7th 2021, 10:00 PM

    Sitteatiioonnnn

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    Mute Patrick O'Farrell
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    Feb 8th 2021, 10:28 AM

    The DUP is full of big ot ed raci sts.
    He’s an out and out rac ist bi got
    In his tiny little mind everyone that isn’t a free Presbyterian is sub-human. People vote for this a-hole are as bad.

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    Mute Joseph Duggan
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    Feb 8th 2021, 12:26 PM

    His ancestors emigrated to usa @became confederate he is hill Billy named after William of orange

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    Mute Tom kenny
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    Feb 7th 2021, 8:21 PM

    Maggie Blackmore

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