ENGLAND footballer Tyrone Mings - who was raised in Chippenham - has hit out at Home Secretary Priti Patel in her condemnation of the racist abuse faced by his teammates, after she previously said players taking the knee was “gesture politics”.

The Home Secretary Priti Patel had earlier said she was “disgusted” at the racist abuse players suffered, having said at the start of Euro 2020 that fans had a right to boo players for taking the knee.

She tweeted: “I am disgusted that @England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media.

“It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.”

Mings, who began his career at Yate Town and then Chippenham Town, had posted in response: “You don’t get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as ‘Gesture Politics’ & then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we’re campaigning against, happens.”

The former Sheldon School pupil has been retweeted thousands of times.

Wiltshire's former Liberal Democrat PCC Candidate Liz Webster replied "Courageous action. Thank you for standing up to these bullies."

Last month, the Home Secretary had called taking the knee “gesture politics” after Gareth Southgate’s side faced jeers from a minority of fans at their first match of Euro 2020.

The symbol of anti-racism solidarity gained attention in American football in 2016 as players protested against police brutality and racism in the US.

The act has since spread further and was adopted by footballers in the UK, partly to demonstrate that racism should not be tolerated in the sport.

Asked about taking the knee, the Home Secretary told broadcaster GB News: “I just don’t support people participating in that type of gesture, gesture politics, to a certain extent, as well.”

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald:

On whether England fans were right to boo the national team, she said: “That’s a choice for them, quite frankly.”

Today, Conservative Plymouth Moor View MP Johnny Mercer, a former defence minister, said of Mings’ tweet: “The painful truth is that this guy is completely right. Very uncomfortable with the position we Conservatives are needlessly forcing ourselves into. Do I fight it or stay silent?

"Modern Conservatism was always so much more to me. We must not lose our way.”