Tag Archives: nick clegg

A leaked email reveals that Nick Clegg’s office are aware of vile Islamophobic remarks by a Liberal Democrat candidate but are doing nothing because they are “carrying on with the by-election”.

The message from a Liberal Democrat close to the scandal (sent to Scrapbook via our tips form) shows Dave Stones’ rants — including suggesting a topless bar and pork restaurant should be built next to a mosque — have been discussed at the most senior levels of the party.

In addition to Nick Clegg’s office, the email reveals president Tim Farron and chief whip Alistair Carmichael are also party to the conspiracy of silence over the row.

“Liberal Democrat HQ all the way to Nick Clegg’s office and key figures like the President and Chief Whip are aware of this and we are carrying on with the by-election.”

After the issue was raised by Tom Blenkinsop in the Commons ysterday, the ethnic minority press have started to pick up on the story, with Asian Image following the lead of papers in the North East.

The reaction to this incident stands in marked contrast with the the party’s “zero tolerance policy” on racism and claims by Nick Clegg that “The Liberal Democrats abhor racism in all its forms”.

On the 30th anniversary of the Scarman report into the Brixton riots the Lib Dem leader said:

“Racism must be met with a steel fist”

Except when it’s a Liberal Democrat by-election candidate, of course!

Nick Clegg is facing growing pressure to sack a Lib Dem candidate responsible for vile Islamophobic rants after religious and anti-racism organisations described remarks by would-be Redcar councillor Dave Stones as “a hate crime”. Meanwhile, local MP Tom Blekinsop has written to Nick Clegg demanding to know “what action your party intends to take against the people who have behaved so disgracefully”.

The developments follow Political Scrapbook’s publication of sickening Facebook posts last week. Dave Stones, who is a candidate for Newcomen ward on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, spread false rumours about the Muslim community and ranted that a pork restaurant and topless bar called “You Mecca Me Hot” should be built “across the street” from a mosque. He added chillingly: “Then we’ll see who’s tolerant.”

Farooq Murad the secretary general of the leading Islamic representative organisation, the Muslim Council of Britain, said:

“We might expect this sort of language from the BNP, but not from someone hoping to stand as a candidate for the Liberal Democrats. We hope that Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and other Lib Dem party leaders will take swift action over this affair and think seriously about who represents them as a candidate”

Meanwhile the Coexistence Trust said:

“This is not an inappropriate comment on any form of social media, this is a hate crime.”

Tom Blenkinsop’s letter is reproduced in full below:

How much longer can the Liberal Democrat leadership ignore this scandal?