Tory councillor exposed for racist online account
Politician revealed to be behind anonymous comments
ACONSERVATIVE Birmingham city councillor is today exposed for sharing insulting and Islamophobic social media posts.
Rick Payne, 59, who represents the ward of Kingstanding, has shared multiple messages on the platform X, formerly Twitter, referring to Islam as a dangerous religion and pressing for people to “take Britain back”.
He speaks of a “civil uprising” on the way and says “blood will spill”.
In one tweeted exchange with right-wing extremist Tommy Robinson, he shockingly refers to Pakistanis as “disgusting inbred medieval filth” and “dirtier than pigs”, a theme he returns to in multiple more tweets.
This week, in response to Post enquiries, a “deeply sorry” Mr Payne said he’d been “suffering from mental health issues”. He has deleted the account.
In a tearful statement, he also pledged to take up offers of support. He has been suspended by the Conservative group on Birmingham City Council, who say they are offering specialist support.
The Post have chosen not to repeat most of his comments in which he speaks disparagingly of Muslims, the religion of Islam and pro-Palestine protests, but together they raise huge red flags, with repeat references to the need to “relieve UK of its medieval cult and its filth”.
The discovery of his vile comments prompted calls from the anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate for him to resign “with immediate effect”.
Georgina Laming, Hope Not Hate’s director of campaigns and communication, said of the findings: “Rick Payne’s vile Islamophobia online proves he is unfit for public office. The Conservatives need to examine why someone with such extreme views would feel welcome in their party.”
Mr Payne, who previously served in the armed forces, said in a statement to the Post: “I have been suffering with mental health issues and at times have not even been aware of what I have tweeted.
“I am deeply sorry for anything offensive on the account and I have therefore deleted the account. I am taking up offers of support and will not be commenting further while I am seeking help.”
His X account repeated multiple far-right tropes about immigrants and calls for “a revolution”.
He also expresses his admiration for disgraced extremist Tommy Robinson in retweets and messages.
This commentary is interspersed with tweets about his beloved Aston Villa FC and selfies, including one outside the House of Commons on January 15 this year, when he says he was “shown around by an MP”.
He also praises vandals who have broken or removed cameras linked to the Ultra Low Emission Zones in London as “fantastic”. Other tweets
are sexually explicit. On the day after the spring budget, he tweeted: “In the 21st century are there any legitimate grounds for the state assassination of high-profile figures considered to be an absolute danger to that state?”
Some of Mr Payne’s tweets do reference his battle with depression and personal struggles.
He regularly messages about the plight of service veterans, including calling for people to show up at the funerals of former servicemen and women.
He also speaks with reverence about the late Queen, is opposed to big-game hunting and criticises immigration policies.
Our investigation into Mr Payne’s online commentary was carried out with the support of Hope Not Hate, who first alerted us to his online persona. The organisation is focused on exposing the influence of far-right extremism in local communities.
It has also vowed to expose any local or national candidates who “cross our red lines”, which it says are “those with a history of hateful politics, dividing communities or being part of the growing radical right in this country. Our campaign is driven by values, not personalities.”
While Mr Payne’s tweets chime with the views of right-wing extremists, in many ways his underlying views are worryingly mainstream.
An Opinium poll of Conservative party members released in February
by the advocacy group Hope Not Hate found that more than half (58 percent) believe Islam is a “threat to the British way of life”.
A further 40 percent of members said they have a “negative” view of Muslims.
Mr Payne was elected as a Conservative councillor in the 2022 local election, representing Kingstanding. He received 1,286 votes in the ward election, standing as a local Conservative, coming in second to Labour candidate Des Hughes.
Mr Payne is also a member of the Erdington Conservative Association. His declared interests as a councillor, and a Companies House entry, reveal he teaches apprentices as a director of his own automotive training firm.
A spokesman for Birmingham Conservatives Group said: “We have been made aware of allegations that Cllr Payne has an anonymous twitter account which has tweeted offensive content as well as making various potential self-harm references.
“We are reaching out to speak to him to discuss the allegations and to offer specialist veterans’ support while the matter is investigated.
“During this time Cllr Payne will be suspended from the group.”