Tories call for withdrawal of Labour candidate over online comments made about Queen Camilla
HYNDBURN Conservative Association has demanded Labour suspend a local election candidate over a Facebook post describing Queen Camilla as ‘jumped up old wh**e’ as it ditched one of its own poll hopefuls for a social media link to a video about a ‘Synagogue of Satan’.
The association wrote to Anneliese Dodds MP Chair of The Labour Party following it emerging that the party’s Peel candidate Clare Pritchard had posted a picture of Prince Diana in May last year with the caption “Forever Queen of the people’s hearts.
“A true Queen NOT some jumped up old wh**e.”
Ms Pritchard, a former deputy leader of Hyndburn Council when it was under Labour control, has apologised for her comments.
She had also shared a photo of King Charles calling him “adulterous” and accusing him of “abandoning his son, wife and grandchildren”.
Ms Pritchard dubbed Prince William as “the special one” and questioned whether Prince Harry has answers over his “link” to P Diddy, after being named in the rapper’s recent lawsuit.
The Conservative letter to Ms Dodds says: “We are writing to you following the publicised comments of a Labour candidate in Hyndburn.
“The comments taken from Facebook made disparaging comments about The Queen.
“The comments were crass and demonstrate that the candidate in question is unfit for office.
“We are sure the Labour Party would not want to be associated with them.
“Therefore in advance of May’s local elections, we would ask you to answer the following question: Whether you will remove Labour candidate in Peel ward, Hyndburn, due to the candidates recently published comments?”
A Labour party spokeswoman said Ms Pritchard remained the candidate and forwarded a statement of apology from her.
It says: ”I am deeply sorry for the offensive comments I made on social media which have recently come to light.
“These were wrong, I should not
have said them and I apologise unreservedly for any offensive I have caused.”
Hyndburn Conservative Associa
tion last week withdrew its support from Netherton ward candidate Mohammed Riaz over social media posts he had shared in 2014.
The first-time local election hopeful had posted a link to a video on extreme right-wing US website Tru News, which featured a reference to ‘The Synagogue of Satan’ above a picture of children being sacrificed.
Mr Riaz also claimed on social media that one video he posted showed how “this Jewish girl is encouraged to hit this Palestinian child by her parents”.
A Hyndburn Conser v at i v e s statement over last weekend said: “We have been made aware that our candidate in Netherton made anti-Semitic comments and shared anti-Semitic tropes in 2014.
“As soon as we were made aware of these comments, the matter was escalated and the candidate was suspended.
“Regrettably, it is too late to withdraw the individual from the ballot paper, but Hyndburn Conservatives will be withdrawing their support.
“Hyndburn Conservatives will always take swift action against discrimination.”
Speaking to the Observer during a visit to Blackpool on April 11, the Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer addressed the historical social media posts.
Sir Keir said: “As you know, we take all these things very seriously in the
Labour Party and there are processes around that.”
Matt Vickers, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said: “These outrageous comments show just how little Labour has changed.
“Even Sir Keir himself previously admitted he was a republican, so it’s no surprise that Labour doesn’t just tolerate these individuals, they’re trying to elect them. “If Starmer has any respect for the monarchy he should immediately withdraw these candidates.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “These comments were deeply offensive and do not reflect the views of the Labour Party which has nothing but the utmost respect and support for our King and Monarchy.”
‘These comments were deeply offensive and do not reflect the views of the Labour Party’ LABOUR SPOKESPERSON