Downing Street has rejected claims that Boris Johnson excused online hatred by not calling out England fans who booed the team for taking the knee against racism.
As Labour leader Keir Starmer linked the racist abuse directed at England players on social media to Johnson’s failure to condemn those who booed the team at the start of the tournament, the Prime Minister’s spokesman was put on the defensive.
Starmer joined Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner and many other commentators in saying that if Boris Johnson had not been silent a few weeks ago, the racists might have felt more inhibited about spreading abuse.
Starmer said: “This is about leadership, and I’m afraid the Prime Minister has failed the test of leadership because, whatever he says today about racism, he had a simple choice at the beginning of this tournament in relation to the booing of those who were taking the knee.”
“The Prime Minister failed to call that out and the actions and inactions of leaders have consequences, so I’m afraid the prime minister’s words today ring hollow.”
At the Downing Street lobby briefing the Prime Minister’s spokesman was asked about the multiple claims that Boris Johnson’s failure to fully support the England team over taking the knee was linked to some people feeling free to direct racist abuse at players.
The spokesman “utterly rejected” the claim that Johnson has promoted racism.
The official said: “The Prime Minister made clear he wanted people to be cheering the team not booing them before England played their first match, and you’ve seen his comments this morning condemning the horrible comments made on social media.”
The spokesman also insisted that it was not accurate to say Johnson had said it was okay for people to boo the players as they took the knee. On 11 June Johnson said he wanted everyone to cheer the team, the spokesman said.
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At the start of the tournament Downing Street refused to condemn England fans booing the team for taking the knee at the start of matches.
But a few days later, in response to a backlash, the official spokesman did say Johnson wanted people to cheer the players, not boo them.
