Priti Patel
(Picture: AFP)Priti Patel may want to brand herself as the It’s Coming Home Secretary, after praising England’s victory over Ukraine in the Euros on Saturday, but people have described her post on Twitter as “embarrassing” – given she previously criticised the team for “gesture politics” over taking the knee.
The anti-racist gesture was widely used last year during global Black Lives Matter protests, and has since been performed by the England squad ahead of their Euro 2020 matches.
However, in an interview with GB News last month, Ms Patel said she didn’t support “people participating in that type of gesture politics” and dodged a question on whether she would boo the Three Lions, as some ‘fans’ of the sides have done when they’ve taken the knee.
“That’s a choice for them, quite frankly,” she said.
However, the home secretary appeared to change her stance – no, not like that – when she took to Twitter to celebrate England’s 4-0 win against Ukraine in the quarter finals.
“What a performance. What a team. It’s coming home,” she tweeted.
Unfortunately for Ms Patel, people hadn’t forgotten her previous comments:
This you? https://t.co/KMwtAEOwxX
— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) July 3, 2021
— Anton 🏴🇬🇧🇪🇺#FBPE (@AntacsB) July 3, 2021
This you? Absolutely shameless. pic.twitter.com/WnnQnpphet
— The Extra Inch (@TheExtraInch) July 3, 2021
— thenovice#fbpe (@pedromakee) July 3, 2021
This you ? pic.twitter.com/InKcaEAzdB
— Matt (@bongbrummie) July 3, 2021
Luckily you weren’t in charge of the Home Office when the majority of these young men’s parents and grandparents arrived.
— Open Mind (@OpenMin12265445) July 3, 2021
Get off the bandwagon, please. It's embarrassing.
— Julian Shea (@juliansheasport) July 3, 2021
Will it have to prove its right to stay once it gets home? Will you deport it to a country it’s never lived in once it’s convenient? Will you put it on a flight to a war zone rather than look after it when you think it’ll win you a few votes?
— Stuart Clarke-Frisby (@stuartfrisby) July 3, 2021
As long as they don't bent the knee
— Louis 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 〓〓 💙 Defend the right to vote (@LouisHenwood) July 3, 2021
You cannot turn your hateful culture war against the England team only to start supporting them when they start winning games
'Priti Patel has said she does not support England football players taking the knee in protest of racism and that fans have the right to boo them at matches.'
— James O'Brien (@mrjamesob) July 3, 2021
Pick a side, Priti. https://t.co/U2YnO53qe9
Same team Priti Patel attacked for taking the knee & refused to condemn racists for booing because they knelt for #BlackLivesMatter
— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) July 3, 2021
Hypocrital ‘gesture politics’ #ENGUKR https://t.co/imrjs4HIm7
Ironically, for a government minister responsible for the rule of law, when it comes to her support for the England team, people are questioning her conviction.
