There isn’t much that’s less attractive than blatant classist snobbery, but that didn’t seem to stop ex-House of Lords member Sir Digby Jones.
As the rest of the nation gets stuck into the Olympics, the former Labour minister decided to offer elocution tips to one of the BBC’s top presenters of the Games.
Sir Jones, 65, who was educated at private Bromsgrove School, directed his own commentary at former Arsenal footballer Alex Scott MBE, 36, who has been leading much of the broadcaster’s coverage of the excitement over in Tokyo.
In a Twitter tirade on Friday, he said that she “spoils a good presentational job on the BBC Olympics Team with her very noticeable inability to pronounce her ‘g’s at the end of a word”.
He ended his rant: “English language….. Help!”
English Language…..Help!
— Lord Digby Jones (@Digbylj) July 30, 2021
As fellow users of the platform flocked to condemn his unsolicited linguistic assessment and offer their support to Scott, she proved that she can happily hold her own.
The ex national footballer wrote in response:
I’m from a working class family in East London, Poplar, Tower Hamlets & I am PROUD 🙌🏾
— Alex Scott MBE (@AlexScott) July 30, 2021
Proud of the young girl who overcame obstacles, and proud of my accent!
It’s me, it’s my journey, my grit.
(1/3) 👇🏾 https://t.co/EObv88MVS0
She then penned a heartwarming message to “young kids who may not have a certain kind of privilege in life”:
A quick one to any young kids who may not have a certain kind of privilege in life.
— Alex Scott MBE (@AlexScott) July 30, 2021
Never allow judgments on your class, accent, or appearance hold you back.
Use your history to write your story.
Keep striving, keep shining & don’t change for anyone 👊🏾
2/3 pic.twitter.com/XITlhtgtxg
Her thread concluded with the defiant assertion that remarks like Jones’s “just give me the energy to keep going”:
Tweets like this just give me the energy to keep going ⛽️🙌🏾
— Alex Scott MBE (@AlexScott) July 30, 2021
See you tomorrow.. live on BBC baby 😘 pic.twitter.com/oI21jpK6r5
Later she proved she had no intention on changing her pronunciation for anyone, speaking live on air with a proud smile:
Incredible scenes @AlexScott. What a class act. https://t.co/YPcMxierhz pic.twitter.com/ekxgqJjfaB
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 31, 2021
The 36-year-old, who was recently announced as the new host of the BBC’s ‘Football Focus’, was backed by fellow sports stars, politicians and other big names:
💯 @AlexScott Keep doin’ what you do so brilliantly 🙌👊 https://t.co/EdLdf6fR5L
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) July 31, 2021
I like natural, authentic accents.
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) July 31, 2021
What annoys me is people putting on posh accents. https://t.co/2RtV8R9En8
You are everything linguists and true lovers of language despise. Also, since we’re being picky, you are not “Lord Digby Jones”, you are Digby, Lord Jones. There’s a world of difference. But however you’re titled, you disgrace the upper house with your misplaced snobbery
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) July 31, 2021
Keep rising 🥰💕
— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) July 31, 2021
Keep being you, @AlexScott.
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) July 31, 2021
Forever proud! ✊❤️ https://t.co/aiR7MjDroX
This thread is what makes @AlexScott such a wonderful role model. Keep rising girl 🙌🏽💕 https://t.co/ZurN2R0xaU
— Eilidh Barbour 💙🤍 (@EilidhBarbour) July 31, 2021
Following the backlash, Sir Digby doubled down on his comments, telling LBC: “I do wish people could criticise in a free democracy and understand that I have a point of view that doesn’t mean I should be cancelled.”
Speaking with host Andrew Castle on Sunday, the 65-year-old argued: “This has got nothing to do with her upbringing. This is not about accents.
“It is about the fact that she is wrong. You do not pronounce the English language ending in a ‘g’ without the ‘g’.”
He continued: “I don’t want her as a role model – and she is one, and a good one – to influence [people] to think that it is very fashionable to go around dropping your ‘gs’.”
Lord Digby Jones stands firm on his criticism of Alex Scott 'dropping her Gs', telling Andrew Castle he 'objects strongly' to the broadcaster 'playing the class card' in her response.@AndrewCastle63 | @Digbylj pic.twitter.com/cB6GW9teDl
— LBC (@LBC) August 1, 2021
The former MP, who left the House of Lords last year, insisted he hadn’t targeted Scott specifically, pointing out that he had also criticised Sky News journalist Beth Rigby and Home Secretary Priti Patel for their pronunciation.
Asked if he thought his comments would be met with such an intense level of opprobrium, Sir Digby said: ‘Never in my wildest dreams,” but, he added: “I don’t regret it for one second because I have a point - and I think I’m right. But I didn’t for a minute think it would cause this sort of storm, I really didn’t.”
