Kemi Badenoch has slammed Labour and accused them of ‘insulting’ black people over Chris Kaba‘s murder case.
The Tory leadership candidate, 44, fumed that the left wing ‘narrative’ was robbing them of their ‘agency and autonomy’ by creating a space where they ‘cannot be anything other than victims’.
Sergeant Martyn Blake was found not guilty of his murder at the Old Bailey on Monday, after shooting Mr Kaba through the windscreen of an Audi Q8 as he tried to ram his way past police cars in Streatham, South London.
Following the verdict, it was revealed on Tuesday that 24-year-old was a ‘core member’ of one of London’s most dangerous criminal gangs and was allegedly directly linked to two shootings in the six days before he was shot dead by police.
Sergeant Blake is now living in hiding, fearing for his life and his family after a £10,000 bounty was offered in revenge for Mr Kaba’s death to anyone prepared to kill him.
Ms Badenoch blasted Labour MPs for comments made after the verdict was reached, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan sending his ‘heartfelt sympaties to Kaba’s family, friends and the wider community.’
MP Kim Johnson told the House of Commons that the ‘media are using racist gang tropes to justify the killing of Chris Kaba’ – while other members of the party were urged to apologise after issuing statements supporting the criminal gang member.
‘These statements all show the same thing: that too many of the predominantly left-wing ruling class still see black people as a homogeneous, monolithic bloc. It is insulting, reductive, patronising and discriminatory,’ she wrote in The Times.
The Tory leadership candidate, 44, fumed that the left wing ‘narrative’ was robbing them of their ‘agency and autonomy’ by creating a space where they ‘cannot be anything other than victims’
Following the verdict, it was revealed on Tuesday that Chris Kaba was a ‘core member’ of one of London’s most dangerous criminal gangs and was allegedly directly linked to two shootings in the six days before he was shot dead by police
Sergeant Martyn Blake was found not guilty of murder over the death of Chris Kaba (pictured) at the Old Bailey on Monday
‘The comments … are just a new version of the old racist trope that all black people are the same and have the same thoughts, the same experiences and the same politics.’
She continued: ‘The idea of the ‘black community’ robs black people of agency and autonomy, presenting black families and individuals as helpless puppets in need of salvation from overbearing lefties or stewardship from self-appointed black ‘community leaders’.’
Ms Badenoch, who will become the first black leader of any UK political party if she wins, added that by using the term ‘community’ people are imposing values and principles – alongside the implicit cultural warning that those failing to comply are ‘traitors to their race.”
She further accused the Met of ‘two-tier policing’ through their community policing schemes.
In the days that followed Mr Kaba’s death two years ago – and before his criminal past had been reported – several prominent Labour politicians including Jeremy Corbyn, Sadiq Khan and Diane Abbott called for ‘justice’ amid protests in London.
But now the rapper’s extraordinary history of violence has been revealed – including his involvement in shooting at a nightclub in Hackney, East London, just six days before his death – the politicians have been urged to apologise for their comments.
Lord Stevens, the former Met Police commissioner, said some politicians were too quick to slam the force and compare Mr Kaba’s death to that of George Floyd.
The murder of the unarmed black man by a white police officer in Minneapolis in 2020 prompted Black Lives Matter protests around the world, including in the UK.
Ms Badenoch, who will become the first black leader of any UK political party if she wins, added that by using the term ‘community’ people are imposing values and principles
Chris Kaba was shot through the windscreen of a car in South London on September 5, 2022
Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, told the House of Commons yesterday that the media were ‘using racist gang tropes to justify the killing of Chris Kaba’
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for ‘justice’ after Chris Kaba’s death in 2022
Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick also criticised some politicians for ‘jumping’ on the shooting ‘to justify their pre-existing prejudices’ – and accused London Mayor Mr Khan of showing poor judgement by ‘mourning’ Mr Kaba’s death.
Sergeant Blake’s barrister had argued ‘bad character’ evidence should be put before the jury. But the judge said it wasn’t relevant because the officer didn’t know Mr Kaba was behind the wheel, only that the car was linked to a shooting the night before.
Lord Stevens told the Telegraph: ‘People need to stop and think. I believe the liberal left should apologise, now it has come out that his background included him having been involved in a shooting and chasing a man outside a night just days before his death.
‘Let’s have an acceptance of what he was and what he did. You can see why he acted the way he did in that car; he wanted to get away from the police and was desperate to do so. I think those who vaunted him should apologise.’
Labour MP Kim Johnson provoked fury this week by accusing the media of poorly portraying Chris Kaba after his real identity as a notorious gangster was finally revealed following the acquittal of the police officer who shot him dead.
The Liverpool Riverside MP also sent ‘condolences’ to the 24-year-old’s family and friends after he was killed in Streatham, South London, in September 5, 2022.
She told the House of Commons: ‘I would like to send my condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Chris Kaba. Particularly this week while the media are using racist gang tropes to justify the killing of Chris Kaba.
‘1,900 people have died in police custody since 1990. And I would say that the police do have protections – you know, we know that our black communities are over policed and under-supported.’
As murmuring could be heard, she asked Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to ‘give us assurances that we and our communities are kept safe and that extra protections are not given to the police because they already have protections they need’.
But Kieran Mullan, Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle in Sussex, later tweeted: ‘As I said in the chamber, it wasn’t a trope. He was a gang member. Equally disgraceful for the local MP to describe him as a ‘well loved’ member of the community.’
LBC presenter Nick Ferrari issued a furious response on his show, saying: ‘This was a man who chose to… in fact has been in crime since he was 13.. and who chose to… we all saw, or if you wanted to watch the TV you could see the video footage, of him shooting presumably a rival in a nightclub. What the hell has the media got to do…
Banging the desk, the host added: ‘Why do we continue to hide behind this? Why don’t we just say… while he did not deserve to die in that fashion, he was no angel.’
After Mr Kaba’s death, former Labour leader Mr Corbyn tweeted: ‘No family should have to go through the pain Chris Kaba’s family have suffered following his killing last week. My thoughts are with them as they fight for justice and accountability for his death.’
Labour MP Diane Abbott called for justice after Mr Kaba was shot dead by a firearms officer
An article written by Labour MP Diane Abbott in the Morning Star following Mr Kaba’s death
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during a walkabout with a police officer in Earlsfield in March
Five days later, Mr Corbyn added: ‘We cannot live the pain felt by his family, but we can support them in demanding #JusticeForChrisKaba.’
Diane Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was also quick to point the finger of blame after Mr Kaba’s death, writing in the Morning Star: ‘As the terrible fate of Chris Kaba shows, people can lose their lives even when going about their daily lives. Defending all our fundamental human rights is crucial under this dangerous, repressive government.’
She added: ‘The mainstream media have an unfortunate habit of erasing inconvenient truths when they have decided what ”the story” is, and it is amazing how often it happens to black people.’
In addition, Ms Abbott wrote: ‘The family, friends and supporters of justice for Chris Kaba will want detailed and serious answers on these and many other questions.
‘But the history of treatment of cases such as these provides no grounds for encouragement. As Stormzy told our rally, people will need great stamina in the fight for justice.’
And Mr Khan said following the launch of a homicide investigation in the days after Mr Kaba’s death: ‘My heartfelt sympathies remain with Chris Kaba’s family, friends and loved ones, who are having to come to terms with a young life cut short.
‘I fully understand the grave concerns and impact of Chris’ death on black Londoners across our city and the anger, pain and fear it has caused – as well as the desire for justice and change.
‘I appreciate that there are many unanswered questions and I want to reassure all of London’s communities that I will continue to push for these to be answered.’
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After the not guilty verdict on Monday, Mr Khan then issued a statement saying he respected the jury’s decision, but added: ‘I understand the impact Chris Kaba’s death has had on London’s communities and the anger, pain and fear it has caused. I send my heartfelt sympathies to Chris Kaba’s family, friends and the wider community once again.’
But Mr Jenrick said Mr Khan showed poor judgement over Mr Kaba’s death. He told TalkTV: ‘Sadiq Khan has mourned the death of Chris Kaba. I don’t mourn his death.
‘This is a man who has gone on a one man crime spree, shooting… and committing crimes across London. London is a safer place without him, and Sadiq Khan’s judgement once again has been called into question.
‘I want the police to enforce our laws without fear or favour, without focusing on community relations. There’s one community in London – that is Londoners. We should be protecting all people and no one should have protected status or the police shouldn’t be worried about how they behave.’
However an ally of Mr Khan – Unmesh Desai, a Labour member of the London Assembly – hit back, describing Mr Jenrick’s remarks as ‘outrageous’ and a ‘tasteless.
He added that it was ‘disappointing to see the death of anyone being used as a political football when families are grieving the loss of a loved one, regardless of circumstance’.
A source close to Mr Khan also told The Standard that his statement on Monday commended ‘firearms officers who work under the most extraordinary pressure, carrying with them unique responsibilities and often putting themselves in harm’s way to protect others’.
Asked about the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, a spokesman for the Mayor told MailOnline: ‘As with all fatal police shootings, it is for the IOPC to independently assess the full circumstances of the case and consider whether the officer(s) concerned should face any misconduct action.’
Chris Kaba is seen sat inside an Audi Q8 in Streatham, South London, on September 5, 2022
The police bodycam footage from multiple angles shows chaotic scenes as Mr Kaba was shot
Mr Kaba’s vehicle was hemmed in by marked and unmarked police cars during the incident
Just six days before his death, Mr Kaba (in blue) brazenly gunned down a rival in the middle of a crowded nightclub during a bloody feud for control of a profitable county lines drug network
In December 2022, the University of Greenwich said in a statement: ‘In September, we heard the heartbreaking news of the death of Chris Kaba, a 24-year-old musician and aspiring architect who was expecting a baby with his fiancée. Two years ago, following the murder of George Floyd, our university committed to do more to eliminate institutional racism.
‘It is essential that we all continue to be honest and humble about the challenges we face about the work that needs to be done and unapologetic in fighting for equity and social justice.’
But the statement now appears to have been deleted from the university’s website.
Scotland Yard hailed policing reforms announced by the Government as progress towards a ‘fairer and faster’ system after the Home Secretary said accused firearms officers will remain anonymous unless they are convicted.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the changes represented a ‘welcome step forward’ after Ms Cooper unveiled a string of measures in the wake of the Kaba case.
The footage shows armed officers running towards Mr Kaba’s car which was hemmed in
A grab from footage issued by the CPS of the initial follow of the Audi driven by Chris Kaba
‘These measures represent positive progress toward a system that is both fairer and faster, supporting the vast majority of officers who serve with integrity every day,’ he said.
‘The importance of these changes couldn’t have been demonstrated more clearly than by the acquittal of our firearms officer Sergeant Martyn Blake.
‘Accountability of the law is critical, but the current system is protracted and unbalanced and fails to secure the confidence of the public and officers.
‘Over many years this has created a culture where our officers are increasingly more worried about a skewed, imbalanced system than they are the dangerous criminals they face on the streets. If this continues, this risks making the public less safe.’
