Luton MP blasts cabinet minister over 'racist' anti-Chinese joke as hate crimes TREBLE during coronavirus lockdown
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Luton North MP Sarah Owen took aim at International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan over the jibe - which was shared with a WhatsApp group discussing claims that China is exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the Sunday Mirror.
The message shows an opened fortune cookie which reads “You not have coronavirus" alongside a caricature of a Chinese face.
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Hide AdUnderneath it was the caption: “Just received my Covid-19 rapid test kit from China. Soooooo relieved!”
Ms Owen, who is the first female MP of Chinese descent, sent a screenshot of the leaked message to the Sunday Mirror and said: “This should cost the minister her job. It’s an appalling example of old-fashioned stereotypes.”
Hate crimes against Chinese people have reportedly trebled during the lockdown, with 267 incidents recorded between January and March of this year.
Ms Owen added: “If Anne-Marie Trevelyan doesn’t understand why this sort of humour was left in the 1970s, I would be happy to explain it to her.
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Hide Ad“In recent weeks we’ve seen East Asians spat at, beaten up, verbally attacked and had their businesses targeted.”
Ms Trevelyan has been approached for comment by Luton Today.
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