MP apologises for calling BBC racist over Papal update ‘black or white’ smoke tweet
Labour MP David Lammy has apologised after accusing the BBC of being racist following its tweet which said "LIVE VIDEO: Chimney of Sistine Chapel as conclave votes for #Pope - will smoke be black or white?"
Lammy replied saying: "This tweet from the BBC is crass and unnecessary. Do we really need silly innuendo about the race of the next Pope?"
However, after receiving several messages alerting him to the fact that black smoke appears from a Vatican chimney when no decision has been made, and white smoke alerts the public to the election of a new Pope, the politician realised his mistake.
He tweeted: "Note to self: do not tweet from the Chamber with only one eye on what you're reading. Sorry folks, my mistake."
The BBC is running live coverage of the Vatican chimney.