Page 78 - Powerlist 2020

Politics, Law & Religion David Lammy
INTERVIEW

He’s never far away from a headline, whether it’s about knife crime, the Grenfell
tragedy or Windrush. Adenike Adenitire talks to the long-serving Labour MP about
his career and asks that if Britain ever has a black Prime Minister, will it be him?

he bio on his Twitter page reads: are stripped of the rights that they’ve responsibility – that’s how the system
“‘Surrenderer’, ‘collaborator’ earned over many years and denied works when you are a Minister. You
Tand ‘colluder’. Former Minister pensions, healthcare and sent back to have your rows in private and in
(Higher Education, Culture, Justice, the Caribbean, to countries they left public you hold the party line. I’ve
Health) now on the backbenches when they were babies, in the Windrush got colleagues like Dawn Butler and
telling it like it is”, and there is probably scandal. I am also an MP at a time when Diane Abbott who are part of the
no more apt way to encapsulate what 72 people die in a preventable fire in Labour shadow frontbench and
David Lammy represents right now in Grenfell Tower, including a dear friend therefore part of putting forward
British politics. of mine, Kadjiah Saye, who died at whatever the position is of the
Over the past few years the MP the age of 24. So, clearly that requires Labour Party. Now, broadly I
for Tottenham since 2002, the same pretty robust representation. agree you must do that, but
borough in which he grew up, has I also think that a lot of people who as a backbencher I have
continued to keep his foot on the necks follow the work that I do and cheer me complete freedom to tell it
(verbally and through his infamous on, recognise and appreciate some of as it is. I’m not hampered
power-charged tweets) of anyone the positions I’ve struck in this Brexit by a particular line that
standing in the way of social justice, environment, an environment in which I have to take for the
particularly in areas likely to affect there’s rising hate for people of colour party, or on behalf
his constituents. Knife and gun crime, and where part of the rhetoric around of colleagues.
the lack of black faces at Oxbridge, leaving the European Union is about
the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, the In the 32 years
Windrush scandal, the ‘white saviours’ since the
of Comic Relief and of course, the utter first black
mess otherwise known as Brexit, are MPs entered
just some of the issues he has spoken Parliament in
out about. 1987, only about
It could be argued that this wasn’t “I am visible and I three black MPs
always the case – that David Lammy am subject to death have been part
MP wasn’t always at the forefront of a ruling Cabinet
of “telling it like it is”, and this is threats on a daily in some way, and only
something we put to the son of basis” one in a key decision-making
Jamaican parents and former barrister. role. Meanwhile, in recent
We also speak to him about being years we’ve seen two Asian
Britain’s first black Prime Minister, a fear of the ‘other’ and xenophobic Home Secretaries, an Asian
whether black MPs have any power in intent. All of that means that the job I do Chancellor and an Asian
Parliament and what he considers to is hugely important. I have very strong Mayor of London… What
be the proudest moment of his career. enemies in public life. Farage, Rees- are your thoughts on the
Mogg and people like Tony Robinson. progression of black MPs
What was it that shifted in your career I am visible and I am subject to death in Parliament?
that prompted you to become the threats and racist abuse on a daily basis. All I can say is that I
unapologetically and extremely vocal So I think that’s why people notice what am proud of what I’ve
David Lammy we see today? I’m up to. I don’t think it’s anything to been able to do for
There is no premeditated shift. I’m do with me changing, it’s to do with the constituents who
the same David Lammy I’ve been for times that we’re in. have had problems
the past 20 years in politics. But, I am and issues. Not all
representing the people of Tottenham Do you feel now as a backbencher those issues always
and a broader community of people that you have freedom to speak more make the news, but
like them, who identify with me at a openly and freely than you did when I’m proud that I’ve
time of Donald Trump, Nigel Farage you were part of the Government or been able to shift the
Jacob Rees-Mogg and Boris Johnson. shadow government? debates on the criminal justice
I am representing people at a time By necessity, if you are part of a system in our country. I was very
when people of Caribbean descent Government you sign up to collective critical in the hours after Grenfell

78 Powerlist 2020