Churchill ‘was a white supremacist and mass murderer’ – Green MSP
Millennial politician in disgraceful slur on ex-PM
SCOTLAND’s youngest MSP has sparked outrage after calling wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill a ‘white supremacist mass murderer’.
Ross Greer, Europe spokesman for the Scottish Greens, chose to insult the man who helped save Britain from the Nazi threat just after the anniversary of his death.
The condescending remark on Twitter, which mocked anyone who admires Churchill, triggered an avalanche of criticism.
The 24-year-old was accused of being ‘crass and simple-minded’ and insulting the generation of Britons who sacrificed so much to fight under Churchill’s leadership. On
‘Call yourself an MSP? You’re an absolute disgrace’
the Conservative party tweeted: ‘Today marks the anniversary of the death of Sir Winston Churchill, who died in 1965 at the age of 90. For many, the greatest Briton to have ever lived.’
The post generated more than 1,300 retweets and 4,000 likes. However, on Friday, Mr Greer responded: ‘Once again for the people in the back. Churchill was a white supremacist mass murderer.’ In the second sentence the words were separated by clapping hand emojis, implying those reading were too stupid to take in what he was saying.
The insults towards one of the towering figures of the 20th Century – who encapsulated the spirit of wartime Britain when he vowed: ‘We shall never surrender’ – yesterday attracted condemnation from across the political spec- trum. Mike Elrick, a former Labour strategist, replied: ‘And you are an MSP? There are kids at primary school with a better understanding of history.’
Nick Yeomans, a former independent candidate in the general election, said: ‘Call yourself an MSP? You’re an absolute disgrace. Churchill liberated millions from tyranny in World War II. Post-war, he warned against Soviet tyranny.’
Conservative MSP Edward Mountain replied: ‘Absolutely unbelievable tweet. Obviously, Ross Greer, you didn’t study history at school. Shame on you.’
But Mr Greer hit back at his critics with more condemnation of Churchill. He said: ‘He consciously chose to starve three million Indians to death by taking food away.
‘He used poison gas against Russians in the 1920s. He believed in eugenics and the superiority of the white race, which to him justified the slaughter of Native Americans, Aborigines, etc.’
While it is true Churchill’s long career had more than its fair share of controversies, he is revered for his fearless leadership, shrewd judgment and inspiring speeches.
Lee Pollock, interim executive director of the International Churchill Society, said that Mr Greer’s remarks were ‘unfair and derogatory’.
He added: ‘The mass murderer label is thrown at [Churchill] because of events like the Bengal famine. It was a great tragedy, but to say Churchill caused it or encouraged it is factually inaccurate.
‘Everyone wants to take people off their pedestal and the greater the historical figure – and Churchill certainly was great – the more they want to do that.
‘It’s a cheap trick. You can’t label people in history based on one aspect of their lives. That is fake history, not real history.’
Maurice Golden MSP, Scottish Conservative chief whip, said: ‘Sir Winston Churchill is one of the defining figures of western democracy. He helped defend our way of life from white supremacists.
‘Seeking to diminish him is a disservice to the millions of men and women who fought to preserve our freedom.’