Claudia Webbe Welcomes Conviction of Dean Tate for Racist Messages Following Her Defense of Wrongly Accused Black Woman

Leicester, UK – Claudia Webbe, former Member of Parliament for Leicester East, has expressed her approval following the conviction and sentencing of Dean Tate at Leeds Magistrates’ Court. Tate was charged with malicious communications after sending racist messages to Webbe in response to her public defense of a wrongly accused Black woman.

Webbe stated, “The words and actions of Dean Tate are an appalling reflection of the growth of racism and misogyny in our country, and I welcome his conviction and sentencing for sending hateful communications.”

The incident traces back to Webbe’s defense of Jocelyn Agyemang, a Black woman who was wrongfully arrested in front of her young son over a bus ticket. The arresting officer, Perry Lathwood, was later convicted of assaulting Agyemang. Webbe, who spoke out in support of Agyemang during her time as an MP, became the target of Tate’s racist comments.

“My ‘crime’ was to defend Jocelyn Agyemang, a Black woman who had been wrongfully arrested in front of her young son over a bus ticket – the police officer, Perry Lathwood, was ultimately convicted of assaulting her,” Webbe explained. “Because I had spoken out in support of her as an MP at the time, Mr. Tate sent me foul racist comments and even dared me to send them to the police, in a clear attempt to intimidate me into silence. His words, while hateful and deeply hurtful, were unsuccessful.”

Webbe went on to highlight the broader context of racism and misogyny that she and other minority MPs face, particularly those on the political left. She emphasized that Tate’s actions are part of a larger, troubling trend in the UK.

“Tragically, the sentiments he expressed are far from the exception that they should be. Ever since I began public service, and even more so as a Member of Parliament, I have been subjected to a significant and constant stream of racist and misogynist abuse, as have other Black and Asian MPs, especially women and especially those on the left,” Webbe remarked.

Webbe also criticized the political landscape, accusing major parties of exploiting racial and ethnic tensions for political gain.

“But all too often, such behaviour goes unpunished and both main political parties have pandered to and even fanned hate for short-term political gain, targeting racialised groups, refugees, and the vulnerable to divert from their own political failings, instead of challenging hate and bigotry. These tactics have poisoned our nation, yet no lessons appear to have been learned, as we can see from the new government’s targeting of Bangladeshis,” she said.

In closing, Webbe called for more stringent legal measures to combat hate speech and incitement of racial hatred.

“Criminal prosecution of those using hate speech should be the rule rather than the exception and it should also be a prosecutable offence to incite racial hatred. It’s time for such bigotry to end and I call on the new government to ensure that measures are put into effect as a matter of urgency to achieve it,” Webbe concluded.