The suspension imposed by the ECB on England bowler Ollie Robinson over the racist and sexist tweets he put out 8 years ago has been called “over the top” by the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.
In addition to this, Mr Dowden has urged the ECB to “think again”. Despite impressing with both bat on ball on his England debut at Lords last week, Ollie Robinson has been suspended from all international cricket pending the outcome of an investigation into the tweets he posted in 2012 and 2013.
Oliver Dowden has said: “Ollie Robinson’s tweets were offensive and wrong. They are also a decade old and written by a teenager. The teenager is now a man and has rightly apologised. The ECB has gone over the top by suspending him and should think again”. Following these comments, a Downing Street spokesperson has confirmed that Boris Johnson backed the Culture Secretary’s comments on this situation.
The prime minister’s official spokesman has said that: “As Oliver Dowden set out, these were comments made more than a decade ago, written by someone as a teenager, and for which they have rightly apologised”.
However, an ECB statement has stated: “England and Sussex bowler Ollie Robinson has been suspended from all international cricket pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation following historic tweets he posted in 2012 and 2013. He will not be available for selection for the LV= Insurance second Test against New Zealand starting at Edgbaston on Thursday 10 June. Robinson will leave the England camp immediately and return to his county”.
This ban comes despite a sincere apology after the first day’s play between England and New Zealand, when Robinson read from a prepared statement to say he was “embarrassed” and “ashamed” of the posts.
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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