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We can learn from Walthamstow warrior Stella Creasy spending the past few days apologising for a crude cartoon she unthinkingly posted on the Labour MPs’ health campaign WhatsApp messaging service.

Contrite Creasy told the party’s Shadow Equalities Minister Dawn Butler and other outraged ethnic minority Parliamentary colleagues she didn’t realise the since-deleted Kia Ora advert was offensive.

Hmmm.

I cringed the moment a furious MP showed me the caricature last week, as the toxic black stereotyping is so obvious, hurtful and deserving of condemnation.

Creasy explained, I’m told, that she was jokily circulating a toon fondly remembered from her 1980s childhood.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Much of what was wrongly acceptable way back then isn’t justifiable today. It’s called progress.

There are those who’ll question the fuss and still grin innocently without grasping why others are offended. I get that.

Thankfully, Creasy, who fights many good fights, is no longer one of them.

The puzzle is why she was late understanding.