Dominic Raab says he would only take the knee for Queen or his wife

Foreign Secretary says protest is a ‘personal choice’

The foreign secretary has said he would not “take a knee” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, arguing that the protest is “a matter of personal choice”.

Asked on Thursday whether he would take part in the symbolic show of support, Dominic Raab said: “I take the knee for two people; the Queen and the missus when I asked her to marry me.”

Explaining why he would not participate, Mr Raab told TalkRadio: “I understand this sense of frustration and restlessness that it driving the Black Lives Matters [sic] movement.

“I’ve got to say, on this taking a knee thing, I don’t know, maybe it’s got a broader history but it seems to be taken from the Game of Thrones [sic], feels to me like a symbol of subjugation and subordination rather than one of liberation and emancipation. But I understand people feel differently about it so it’s a matter of personal choice.”

Mr Raab is one of the prime minister’s top deputies, and covered for Boris Johnson while he was out of action with coronavirus.

“Taking a knee” as a custom began in 2016 as a protest by US athletes, who knelt on one knee during the US national anthem to highlight racism and police brutality.

The act has since spread and become a broader symbol of solidarity with and support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The foreign secretary faced barrage of criticism for his comments.

“This is not just insulting to the Black Lives Matter movement, it is deeply embarrassing for Dominic Raab,” Labour MP David Lammy said. “He is supposed to be the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom.”

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner adopt the protest stance last week (Keir Starmer/Twitter)

Labour former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott wrote: “Taking the knee began in 2016 with American athletes refusing to stand for US national anthem.

“They were protesting police brutality and racism. But Dominic Raab thinks it comes from Game of Thrones”

Later the same day Mr Raab issued a statement on Twitter: “To be clear: I have full respect for the Black Lives Matter movement, and the issues driving them. If people wish to take a knee, that’s their choice and I respect it. We all need to come together to tackle any discrimination and social injustice.”

Downing Street declined to say whether Mr Raab had been ordered to issue the clarification, but said that Boris Johnson had not spoken to him about his comments.

The PM’s official spokesperson distanced Mr Johnson from the foreign secretary’s remarks telling reporter that Mr Raab was “very clear he was expressing a personal opinion”.

But he refused to discuss whether the PM himself would be willing to take a knee, saying only: “It’s not something that has happened, but you have got his words on what he wants to focus on in response to the protests and demonstrations and the very strong feelings we have seen over the last couple of weeks. We set up the race commission to focus on a positive agenda for change.”

Labour leader, Keir Starmer, last week tweeted a picture of himself taking a knee in his parliamentary office in support of protesters.