This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-trevor-merralls-eradicate-islam-tweets-parliamentary-candidate-investigation-racist-muslims-a7713111.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Labour launches investigation into MP candidate Trevor Merralls over Islam tweets | Labour launches investigation into MP candidate Trevor Merralls over Islam tweets |
(35 minutes later) | |
Labour has launched an investigation into one of its prospective parliamentary candidates after allegations that he suggested that Europeans should “eradicate Islam from our continent”. | |
The Independent understands that the investigation centres around the @wellingblueboy Twitter account, which is alleged to have been that of Trevor Merralls, the Labour parliamentary candidate for the safe Tory seat of Old Bexley and Sidcup. | The Independent understands that the investigation centres around the @wellingblueboy Twitter account, which is alleged to have been that of Trevor Merralls, the Labour parliamentary candidate for the safe Tory seat of Old Bexley and Sidcup. |
The Twitter account, which has now been deleted but is still viewable in web caches, posted and 'liked' a number of racist and Islamophobic messages over the course of the last few years. | The Twitter account, which has now been deleted but is still viewable in web caches, posted and 'liked' a number of racist and Islamophobic messages over the course of the last few years. |
Mr Merralls is the general secretary of a taxi-drivers cooperative United Cabbies Group (UCG) and a black cab driver in London; he has held the leadership position since an announcement on 1 December 2016. @wellingblueboy identified itself as “trev” and said it was a taxi driver in London and campaigner with the UCG. | |
Mr Merralls denies that the Twitter account belongs to him. However, in a comment under a video of Mr Merralls posted on social media in November 2016, he is introduced by the person who posted the video as: “His name is Trevor Merralls, deputy general secretary of @unitedcabbies – UK’s only nationwide trade org for black cab drivers. Aka @wellingblueboy on Twitter.” | |
Denying that the Twitter account belonged to him, Mr Merralls said in a post on social media: “Already the smears and fake tweets have begun. I've been through this before. I'm standing in a safe Tory seat. What are they so afraid of? | Denying that the Twitter account belonged to him, Mr Merralls said in a post on social media: “Already the smears and fake tweets have begun. I've been through this before. I'm standing in a safe Tory seat. What are they so afraid of? |
“Uber accessed highest level of government and used ministers like paid up lobbyists. Made up, cropped, and photoshopped tweets wont shut me up”. | “Uber accessed highest level of government and used ministers like paid up lobbyists. Made up, cropped, and photoshopped tweets wont shut me up”. |
He added: "That's categorically not me". | |
During a discussion about Islam on Twitter on 3 March 2014 the @wellingblueboy Twitter accounted posted “on a positive note that should eradicate Islam from our continent for years”. | During a discussion about Islam on Twitter on 3 March 2014 the @wellingblueboy Twitter accounted posted “on a positive note that should eradicate Islam from our continent for years”. |
The account also ‘liked’ a tweet from a Twitter account with the display name “STOP #WHITEGENOCIDE” which read “Jew #Labour paid off the muslims with votes and illegal wars with 600,000 British White girls. #UKIP #BNP”. | The account also ‘liked’ a tweet from a Twitter account with the display name “STOP #WHITEGENOCIDE” which read “Jew #Labour paid off the muslims with votes and illegal wars with 600,000 British White girls. #UKIP #BNP”. |
At one point the Twitter account also identified itself as a supporter of the BlueHand movement which describes itself as an “online movement against political correctness”. | |
Its website says: “Free Speech is a fundamental right, one that is nature/God given. Sadly, it is also a right that our politicians are attempting to take from us, thanks to the appeasement of Islamism coupled with the constant wolf-cries of certain minority groups.” | Its website says: “Free Speech is a fundamental right, one that is nature/God given. Sadly, it is also a right that our politicians are attempting to take from us, thanks to the appeasement of Islamism coupled with the constant wolf-cries of certain minority groups.” |
A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn said: “Labour’s National Executive committee is urgently investigating allegations of racism involving a prospective parliamentary candidate. | A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn said: “Labour’s National Executive committee is urgently investigating allegations of racism involving a prospective parliamentary candidate. |
“If the allegations are found to be true, the strongest disciplinary action will be taken and he will be removed as a Labour candidate. | “If the allegations are found to be true, the strongest disciplinary action will be taken and he will be removed as a Labour candidate. |
“The Labour party has always been at the forefront of standing against racism in all its forms. Hate and division have no place within our party.” | “The Labour party has always been at the forefront of standing against racism in all its forms. Hate and division have no place within our party.” |