Thread by @SimonFRCox

Nandy is making an important point here and she used it to oppose weaponising racism in Britain. Thread. 1/

https://twitter.com/danbloom1/status/1269552036179296256

Nandy said this because Marr pressed foran assessment of Trunp’s own racism. She had already:
- praised the #BlackLivesMatter protests
- talked about long-standing UK racism
- attacked UK stop and search. Watch at 41.30 of show. 2/

Nandy knows racist behaviour matters more than racist intention.

The pathologising of racism has helped not-racist-racists to refuse to examine their own behaviour and that of their friends by saying “I’m not a racist. I can’t be - I have black friends!” 3/

Was US President Lyndon Johnson a racist? Yes.
Did he take key steps to counter racism? Also yes.

It’s Trump’s behaviour that matters. Not his inner thoughts.
4/

Marr isn’t the place for nuance. Nandy has 2 options. She can say “Trump is a racist” - that becomes the headline - & we lose the attention to the deeper point.

That Trump weaponises & plays to the deep racism of US society. But Nandy was making an even more important point. 5/

Nandy saying “Trump is a racist” changes no-ones mind.

Instead she chose to say “Trump is using racism in elections and that’s going to happen in UK.”

IMO that’s a wise use of her platform. /6

Was Nandy radical? No.
Do I agree with all her politics? No.
Was she giving Trump a pass?
Also No.
7/7