KUALA LUMPUR – An ex-BBC journalist and former rector of Edinburgh University found himself in hot water after calling three appointments by newly minted prime minister Liz Truss a “coconut cabinet”'.
Iain Macwhirter earned the ire of social media users after responding to a tweet regarding the appointments of Kwasi Kwarteng, James Cleverly and Suella Braverman, which underscored diversity in the United Kingdom’s high offices, the Daily Mail reported.
Retweeting a post from political scientist Timothy Bale, which carried the photos of the three politicians, Macwhirter wrote: “The coconut cabinet?”
Labelling a person as a “coconut” is derogatory as it refers to skin colour, either black or brown, while the person has Caucasian tendencies and mannerisms.
Macwhirter, now a columnist for Scottish paper The Herald, was quickly panned by Twitter users who demanded he apologise over the “racist” post. He has since deleted the tweet.
One critic accused Macwhirter of being a “closet racist” while another asked him to apologise promptly.
“The longer you wait to apologise for your racist tweet, the worse you’re making it for yourself,” the social media user said.
Following the backlash, Macwhirter issued an apology, admitting that he had used “unacceptable language” that was “wide open to misinterpretation”.
An apology. pic.twitter.com/Q86xT8L11B
— Iain Macwhirter (@iainmacwhirter) September 7, 2022
“I am sincerely sorry for the distress I have caused.”
He also stated that he has applauded the Conservative party for “having the most diverse cabinet” in British history.
Macwhirter added that he had always championed racial diversity in his columns and was dismayed that his “cack-handed” attempt at humour suggested otherwise.
The Herald has reportedly suspended Macwhirter while investigating the matter.
Kwarteng was appointed chancellor of the exchequer; Cleverly the secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs; and Braverman as secretary of state for the Home Department. – The Vibes, September 8, 2022
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