Fury over Conservative students’ night of shame

A CONSERVATIVE university society has caused widespread outrage by posing for a shocking Facebook picture.

Some young Tories wore T-shirts scrawled with graffiti, including one stating, “F*** the NHS”.

Another looks like he is sporting a Hitler-style moustache, while a pal appears to be making a hand gesture used by white supremacists.

Plymouth University Conservatives were enjoying a night out at local bar Switch to mark the start of the academic year.

One student said: “This has spread like wildfire throughout the university and has provoked a huge amount of anger. It’s outrageous.”

Conservative Party HQ launched an immediate investigation and announced it would suspend any party members involved.

The university Students’ Union also suspended the association, pending an investigation, saying: “We totally condemn behaviour of this kind along with all forms of racism and anti-semitism.” And the university said: “The University does not tolerate anti-semitic or racist behaviour under any circumstance and will take disciplinary action in line with our procedures in the event of incidents such as this.”

It is unclear if all those pictured are society members. But outraged fellow students named some of them. Pictured in the centre is society president Jake Thurman.

Daniel Phillips-o’leary, is seen wearing a “F*** the NHS” slogan.

Ross Horton has messages mentioning Barack Obama, “Jude” – German for Jew – and a Star of David. His hand gesture looks like the OK symbol, but could also be the “white power” symbol – three upturned fingers for W and a circle and downward palm line for P.

Computer science student Josh Hocking has a message mentioning “Trump” and Charlie Edlestonhaynes has a slogan containing the word “Enoch”, likely to be a nod to Tory right-winger Enoch Powell.

On the sleeve of one student is the message: “Blair was right.”

Mr Thurman, currently at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, refused to comment.

In the past he has posted photos online posing with Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson. Phillips-o’leary has been seen with Jacob Rees-mogg.

Local Labour MP Luke Pollard said the students “brought shame on themselves”. He added: “Hitler moustaches, the slogans on their clothing, the hate and the white power symbols should not be acceptable in mainstream politics.”

A Conservative party spokesman said “We are investigating and will suspend those people identified as members of the party.”

We do not tolerate anti-semitic or racist behaviour UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH IN STATEMENT YESTERDAY

Were you at the Plymouth Tories’ party? Do you know any of the people involved? Email andy.lines@mirror.co.uk