Tory leader urged to go over social media posts
Councillor tweeted: ‘I don’t know a white GP or doctor’
TI will make no apology for asking people to respect the tradition of Christmas Cllr David Fisher
HE leader of the Sandwell Conservative Party has been urged to resign after “distasteful” social media posts were discovered.
In 2016, Cllr David Fisher retweeted an Asian junior doctor’s complaint about a new NHS contract and said: “Leave then, plenty of overseas doctors would jump at the chance of working for the best health company in the world, the NHS.”
He also wrote: “What is the Government going to do about white representation in the medical profession. I don’t know a white GP or doctor.”
Cllr Fisher also pledged to boycott a KFC branch due to it not serving bacon.
He apologised ‘‘wholeheartedly’’ for the comments.
He said on Facebook on December 30, 2016: “Went to KFC on Junction 9 in Wednesbury today and was told I can’t have bacon on the burger because ‘we’ serve halal only. We don’t have a choice and it’s just being forced on us. Well, I won’t be going back soon.”
He also responded to Yew Tree School serving a halal menu by writing: “No choice in it, mate. What if I don’t want it? Suppose it’s just tough then. We should have a choice, not forced on us.”
He also spoke about the celebration of Christmas and said: “I’m sorry if it offends you but we are just celebrating our culture, we respect yours now may we ask you respects ours.”
The controversy comes after Jalal Ahmed, deputy chair for the West Bromwich East branch of Sandwell Conservatives, resigned after admitting using “unacceptable language” in 2013 and 2018 Facebook posts.
Warley MP John Spellar said: “This
is deeply disappointing and distasteful. The Conservatives in Sandwell must take immediate action. I would hope the Conservative MPs in Sandwell show they do not tolerate these type of comments.”
Cllr Kerrie Carmichael (Lab) and leader of the Labour-controlled council, said: “There is no place in Sandwell for this type of discrimination, especially coming from someone who wants to lead the council which includes so many different cultures and faiths.”
Cllr Fisher said: “I want to apologise wholeheartedly for comments that I made several years ago that have come to light recently. They do not reflect me as a person and I have never been more proud to represent our diverse communities in Sandwell.
“Whilst none of my comments were intended to offend, and indeed I do not accept that all of the highlighted comments cause offence – in particular I will make no apology for asking people to respect the tradition of Christmas – I understand how some of my comments can be viewed as offensive.
“I can only apologise for the offence my comments have caused.”
Cllr Fisher recently put forward a council resolution demanding all councillors pass a DBS check to ensure they are ‘‘fit and proper’’ to be elected.