Yahoo News MP David Lammy laughs off claims his 'white saviour' row is to blame for £8m Comic Relief donations drop
Labour MP David Lammy has laughed off claims he is to blame for an £8 million drop in donations to Comic Relief following a row over "white saviours" doing charity work for the organisation.
The charity has raised £63.5m so far this year after its Red Nose Day appeal on Friday.
This was down from more than £71m after the event in 2017.
The drop in funding came after the MP for Tottenham criticised the charity appeal for sending documentary maker Stacey Dooley to film in Africa, saying "the world does not need any more white saviours".
Tory MP Chris Philp on Sunday blamed "pathetic manufactured indignation" from Mr Lammy for the fall in donations.
He tweeted: "Pathetic manufactured indignation from @DavidLammy has caused £8m less money to be raised for charity. The cost of his absurd egotistical posturing is real.
"This is money that could have been used to save lives. He should fulsomely apologise to stop a repeat next year."
To be fair since I've become MP for Tottenham sea-levels have risen, Trump has become President, and England still hasn't won the world cup since '66. Coincidence? https://t.co/YxOB2XKchG
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy)
However Mr Lammy brushed aside the criticism in a post on Monday.
He responded to a tweet by James O'Brien that asked: "What else can we blame David Lammy for? May I nominate the weather?"
Mr Lammy jokingly replied: "To be fair since I've become MP for Tottenham sea-levels have risen, Trump has become President, and England still hasn't won the world cup since '66. Coincidence?"
In February, the MP said Ms Dooley was perpetuating “tired and unhelpful stereotypes” after she travelled to Uganda for an upcoming documentary.
Mr Lammy said the issue was not “personal” with Ms Dooley and that he does not question her “good motives”. But he added: "The world does not need any more white saviours.”
Investigative reporter Ms Dooley hit back, saying in response to his tweet: “David, is the issue with me being white? (Genuine question).”
Responding at the time, a spokesman for Comic Relief made no apologies, thanking Ms Dooley for helping people "working with or supported by Comic Relief projects tell their own stories in their own words”.
