Symbolic race gesture of taking a knee is 'subjugation', says UK foreign secretary

Dominic Raab under fire after suggesting the pose supporting Black Lives Matter was taken from TV show Game of Thrones

Dominc Raab said the only two people he would kneel for were Queen Elizabeth and his wife. AFP / PRU

Britain’s foreign secretary has been heavily criticised after saying that he would not be taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement because it felt like a “symbol of subjugation and subordination”.

Dominic Raab said he believed that the pose was from the TV programme Game of Thrones, and that he would only take a knee for two people: "The Queen [Elizabeth II] and the Mrs when I asked her to marry me."

Mr Raab added that he understood the sense of frustration that was driving the campaign, later clarifying that he had full respect for the international human rights movement.

The symbolic gesture, which involves going down on one knee, began in the United States as a form of protest. The American football player Colin Kaepernick famously did so in 2016 during the national anthem before a match to demonstrate against racism and police brutality.

It has since been repeated by countless others in support of Black Lives Matter and as a sign of respect to George Floyd, the African-American killed in custody by an officer in Minneapolis on May 25. In the UK, Premier League footballers took a knee at the resumption of the competition on Wednesday night

"I've got to say on this taking the knee thing - which I don't know, maybe it's got a broader history - but it seems to be taken from the Game Of Thrones," he told talkRADIO on Thursday.

“It feels to me like a symbol of subjugation and subordination, rather than one of liberation and emancipation,” he said. "But I understand people feel differently about it, so it is a matter of personal choice.”

The shadow foreign secretary, Lisa Nandy, said his comments were “really disrespectful” and had a "flippant tone".

David Lammy, the shadow justice secretary, said Mr Raab’s remarks were "insulting" and "deeply embarrassing".

Mr Raab took to Twitter by way of clarification, saying: “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.”

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gestures as he takes a knee before the match at Manchester City. Reuters

Players of Aston Villa and Sheffield United take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement prior to their Premier League match. Getty

Arsenal's Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, right, takes a knee. AFP

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, right, and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne. PA

Sheffield United's Billy Sharp and Aston Villa's John McGinn take a knee. Reuters

Sander Berge of Sheffield United takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Getty

Aston Villa's Keinan Davis and Sheffield United's John Lundstram. Reuters

Aston Villa and Sheffield United players take a knee. PA