Labour MP Dawn Butler is asking colleagues to sign on to a soon-to-be-open letter calling for Sarah Pochin to be formally reprimanded by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards for her complaint on TalkTV about adverts. Butler is asking friends if they would “consider signing my joint cross-party letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, regarding comments made by the Member of Parliament for Runcorn and Helsby, which I believe constitutes a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members”…
The MP, who last year shared a post describing Kemi Badenoch as “the most prominent member of white supremacy’s black collaborator class,” argues the apology is not enough and “Ms Pochin’s remarks undermine the Nolan Principles of Objectivity and Honesty, as her claim that the representation of Black and Asian people in advertising suggests that whiteness is the normative identity, while minoritised communities are outsiders or exceptions. However, Black and Asian people have lived, worked and contributed to Britain for centuries and almost 20% of the UK population are Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnicity.“ Labour wants to have the argument…
Starmer called the comments ‘racist’ yesterday. Scrapping for a fight…
“Dear Mr Greenberg,
Following advice from the Deputy Speaker, we are writing regarding comments made by the Member of Parliament for Runcorn and Helsby, Sarah Pochin, which we believe constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament.
On Saturday 25 October 2025, during a TalkTV phone-in, Sarah Pochin MP stated: “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people.”
Although Ms Pochin later issued a statement describing her comments as “poorly phrased”, she repeated her belief that the advertising industry had gone “DEI mad” and that adverts were “unrepresentative of British society as a whole.”
We believe these remarks are racist. They single out Black and Asian people and frame their visibility as a problem.
Members of Parliament are required to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and respect as set out in the Nolan Principles of Public Life.
It is our collective view that Ms Pochin’s remarks undermine the Nolan Principles of Objectivity and Honesty, as her claim that the representation of Black and Asian people in advertising suggests that whiteness is the normative identity, while minoritised communities are outsiders or exceptions. However, Black and Asian people have lived, worked and contributed to Britain for centuries and almost 20% of the UK population are Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnicity.
Ms Pochin also fails to demonstrate Leadership, Integrity, and Selflessness by promoting division based on skin colour. This rhetoric risks emboldening those who view diversity as a threat, normalising racial exclusion and hatred. The Nolan Principles require Members to uphold the integrity and reputation of the House, act with respect, and avoid conduct that discriminates against others. Ms Pochin’s comments clearly fall short of these standards.
We ask you to formally investigate whether the Member of Parliament for Runcorn and Helsby’s remarks constitute a breach of the Code of Conduct and assess her conduct against the Nolan Principles of Public Life.
Public office is a privilege that carries moral responsibility, and the public expects Members of Parliament to lead by example. Statements that single out or diminish entire groups of people based on race have no place in public life. We therefore urge you to take this matter seriously and ensure that the standards of this House reflect an inclusive, respectful, and diverse Britain.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Due to the public interest in this subject, we will publish this letter.
Yours sincerely,
Dawn Butler MP
Member of Parliament for Brent East”
