Bafflingly, it’s not even the first time Lord Kilclooney has described an accomplished politician as ‘The Indian’ instead of using their name
A peer has sparked bafflement and fury after calling incoming Vice President Kamala Harris ‘The Indian’ instead of using her name.
The House of Lords faces demands to act against Lord Kilclooney, a former deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, after the act was branded “dark ages”-level racism.
He claimed his remark wasn’t racist and failed to apologise today. He also claimed he didn’t know her name at the time.
Bizarrely, his comment comes almost three years after he landed in hot water for using the exact same phrase to describe Irish PM Leo Varadkar.
At the time Lord Kilclooney withdrew his remark but claimed he was “certainly no racist” and that he has “an admiration for Indians”.
She also made history by being the first woman to be elected vice president when voters chose her and Joe Biden to replace Donald Trump in the White House.
Lord Kilclooney tweeted: ”What happens if Biden moves on and the Indian becomes President. Who then becomes Vice President?”
The crossbench peer denied he was being racist, telling the Evening Standard: “Biden refers to himself as being Irish. There’s no difference.
“India is celebrating her victory which was well-deserved.”
He added: “People in America claim to be black, claim to be Irish, claim to be Indian.
“I don’t like the way the American media yesterday was referring to her as being black that is rather racist. But she’s certainly Indian and proud of her Indian origin.”
He later tweeted: “I did NOT know her name. She is totally new to me. Now I know it is Harris. Biden is proud to be Irish and Harris to be Indian. Both have every right to do so. I deplore some media describing her as being black. Colour racism should not be introduced!”
But Labour shadow minister Wes Streeting said “action must be taken” over the peer’s tweet.
