Jacob Rees-Mogg apologizes over using ‘racist language’ in parliament
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, has issued an apology after complaints from MPs that he had used an anti-Asian term, denoting his racist language, but claimed he “didn't know” he had used an offensive term.
Rees-Mogg used the term “yellow peril” in order to describe the Liberal Democrats during a Commons debate on Thursday afternoon.
The phrase, which originated in the late 19th century, is considered to be a racist color-metaphor that represents the peoples of East Asia as a perceived threat to the West.
Responding to a question from Conservative MP Damien Moore about transport links in his constituency, Tory Rees-Mogg said that he has heard about Moore working in collaboration with the Liberal Democrats, which “shows how completely lunatic they must be to have created an alliance between him and the yellow peril.”
His comments erupted severe anger and criticism among MPs, with British-Chinese MP Sarah Owen saying there was "simply no excuse" for the term to be used.
"In the last 30 mins Jacob Rees-Mogg has just used the racist term 'yellow peril' in Parliament," she tweeted.
She blasted his conduct that “It is 2021 not 1821!”
She added that “it was made worse by the fact the only two MPs of ESEA [East and Southeast Asian] descent were sat on the front-benches as we words 'yellow peril' left his mouth.”
Shadow Commons leader, Thangam Debbonaire, also criticized Rees-Mogg’s language, saying “the Leader made use of an extremely offensive racist term” which she found “really difficult” to understand.
Although the Tory minister had “spoken powerfully and correctly over the last few months about the scourge of racism and his commitment to ending it,” he might have used the term “unintentionally” and she hoped Rees-Mogg would "reconsider" his language, the Labour MP added.
Rees-Mogg was forced to apologize in face of the critical comments and was at pains to tell the MPs, "If I have used a term which is offensive I apologize profoundly.”
"I had absolutely no intention of using any term that was offensive, I don't actually know what term I used that was offensive, so if out of ignorance I have, I apologize,” he said.
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