Wikipedia official who accused Shapps is a Lib Dem
THE Wikipedia official who accused Grant Shapps of doctoring his own biography was exposed yesterday as a former Liberal Democrat member. The Tory party chairman has been suspected this week of using an anonymous user identity to delete embarrassing facts about his past and add unflattering details about his political rivals.
Yesterday it emerged that the senior Wikipedia administrator who investigated the allegations – following a tip-off from the left- wing Guardian – had been a political activist. Richard Symonds, who goes by the online name ‘Chase me ladies, I’m the Cavalry’, is one of the UK’s top administrators for the website. The 29-year-old once described himself as ‘Liberal Democrat to the last’.
Mr Symonds decided to block a user called Contribsx on Tuesday after concluding the account was probably operated either by Mr Shapps or under his ‘clear direction’. Mr Shapps angrily denied the claims, insisting the story was ‘untrue from start to finish’.
Mr Symonds’ decision was criticised by other Wikipedia activists, who warned the site should not be used to ‘play politics’. They referred the case to an arbitration committee.
Mr Symonds, from Bow, east London, has now deleted his Twitter profile describing