Shabana Mahmood's expletive-laden response to a heckler at the Labour party conference has sparked debate, but columnist Zoe Williams argues that the shock value is misplaced. The home secretary told a disruptor to 'fuck right off' during a recorded interview with comedian Matt Forde at a West End theatre. However, Williams contends that the real issue lies in Mahmood's subsequent framing of the incident as victimhood.
The Heckle and the Policy
The heckler accused Mahmood of 'out-Reforming Reform' and creating a 'theatre of cruelty' with her new immigration policies. Under these plans, the time required for settled status has been doubled to 10 years, and refugees will face status reviews every 30 months. Williams suggests that such policies, even if popular among some, were not expected from a Labour government.
Profanity in Politics
While swearing in politics has become more common, Williams notes that Mahmood's use was calculated. Unlike John Prescott's impulsive punch, Mahmood waited until the heckler was removed to make her remark, with Forde's laughter encouraging her. This, Williams argues, was not a display of toughness but an attempt to appear 'cool and fun'.
The Victimhood Narrative
Mahmood went on to claim that the heckle was an attempt to 'delegitimise' her viewpoint, a language of victimhood that Williams finds absurd from a home secretary. She then projected this victimhood onto the 'valid, legitimate views of millions', implying that disagreement with her marginalises the public. Williams dismisses this as a rightwing bait-and-switch tactic.
Cynicism and Contempt
Mahmood further argued that the hecklers were trying to put her in a box, suggesting they think she does not belong in her own country. She dismissed her critics as 'white liberals', though the heckler was reportedly a person of colour. Williams concludes that Mahmood's contempt for Labour values is now naked, and the expletive's power to shock has been restored through its cynical use.
This article was written by Zoe Williams, a Guardian columnist.
