Labour politicians are among those expressing fulsome praise for a fierce maiden speech by the SNP’s Mhairi Black, the UK’s youngest MP, which was one of the top trending topics on social media on Tuesday.
The full version of Black’s speech has become a viral hit on the SNP’s Facebook group and elsewhere.
The speech was picked up by TIME magazine, with the headline “Watch this 20-year-old legislator completely own the UK parliament with a dazzling speech”.
Students and other young people on Twitter and Tumblr said they were inspired by Black’s age and example.
.@MhairiBlack's maiden speech was incredible. Fab example of someone my age offering so much for politics in our country. I'm a bit jel.
— Adam Ladley (@ladley_a) July 14, 2015
People love Mhairi Black http://t.co/EGthZWj6Lb pic.twitter.com/8LDoQusla9
— Siraj Datoo (@dats) July 15, 2015
@MhairiBlack can I just say, couldn't be prouder of someone my age able to articulate themselves and represent their constituency #followed
— Alex Garnett-Scherer (@agarnettscherer) July 15, 2015
@loosewomen There's finally someone to inspire young women that doesn't promote an unattainable lifestyle! #MhairiBlack #loosewomen
— Katheriiiiiiine, yo. (@Katherinee_xo) July 15, 2015
In the anti-austerity speech where Black called herself “the only 20-year-old in the whole of the UK who the chancellor is prepared to help with housing” after the age limit imposed on housing benefit, she also called for a healing of relations with the Labour party.
“I have never been quiet in my assertion that it is the Labour party that left me, not the other way round,” she said in the speech where she also praised the late Labour grandee Tony Benn. “I reach out a genuine hand of friendship that I can only hope will be taken. Ultimately people are needing a voice, people are needing help. Let’s give them it.”
Several Labour politicians seemed receptive to her call for cooperation. Praise for Black’s speech was tweeted and retweeted by Labour MPs including Tulip Siddiq, Diane Abbott and Sarah Champion, as well as Labour’s Madeleine Jennings, the parliamentary researcher for MP Stephen Kinnock.
I may not agree with everything Mhairi Black said in her maiden speech but credit where it's due -it was well delivered, passionate & witty.
— Tulip Siddiq (@TulipSiddiq) July 14, 2015
Great first speech in Parliament by @MhairiBlack pic.twitter.com/gzfCKRzt7G
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) July 14, 2015
Mhairi Black giving v emotional speech in budget debate. Reminiscent of early 20thC labour speakers. SNP finally aiming that energy at gov.
— Madeleine Jennings (@MaddieJPIP) July 14, 2015
Even the founder of the “Milifandom”, 17-year-old Labour-supporting Abby Tomlinson, said she was impressed with Black.
Not always an SNP fan, but good lord @MhairiBlack is so inspiring.
— Abby Tomlinson (@twcuddleston) July 14, 2015
Writing in the Guardian on Wednesday, Black repeated her offer of cooperation to Labour party colleagues. “I fully appreciate that simply on a human level it must be a blow to see so many colleagues, and often friends, losing their jobs,” she wrote. “But, as my SNP parliamentary colleague Tommy Sheppard once said, they must get over it.
“I know there are Labour MPs with constituencies like mine, with beliefs like mine and with desires for a better society like mine. It is now time to build upon these shared goals.
“We share those opposition benches together and it is through them that we must oppose, not abstain. There is a hand of friendship being outstretched across those benches; I hope that Labour is prepared to take it.”
One Labour MP was swift to reject Black’s offer. Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, took exception to Black’s explicit nationalism.
Dear Mhairi,you're a nationalist, espousing nationalism.Extend a hand of friendship?Opposed parties we are, & opposed parties we shall stay.
— Tom Blenkinsop (@TomBlenkinsop) July 15, 2015
SNP activists attacked some of the coverage of her speech, pointing out the BBC’s Reporting Scotland programme did not feature a clip of the speech itself, only the subsequent admonishment of SNP MPs for clapping.
Many people tweeted their disapproval of the broadcaster’s coverage.
BBC Scotland covered Mhairi Black's maiden speech with clip of the Deputy Speaker reprimanding SNP MPs for clapping https://t.co/L42vH44y0M
— Jim Hickey (@JimHickeyFilm) July 15, 2015
.@BBCScotland the way you covered @MhairiBlack maiden speech was beyond disrespectful. You really should be ashamed of yourselves.
— Adam McNamara (@AdamMcNamara77) July 15, 2015
@BBCScotlandNews you should be ashamed of your coverage of @MhairiBlack MS in HOC today! @BBCNews pathetic
— Happy Harry (@zzzoooman) July 14, 2015
