A Twitter exchange has given voters a timely reminder of what diversity can mean in the Conservative Party.
First, came this eye-watering and sobering tweet:
A little snapshot of what Tory candidates have been up to this month.
Anti-semitism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, physical abuse – if you can think of a form of abuse, the Tories have a candidate to provide it.
Don't let them soil our politics.#VoteLabour on 3rd May pic.twitter.com/1JoejbUJ0B— Matt Thomas (@Trickyjabs) April 26, 2018
A response to the tweet certainly put a new spin on things too, arguing that the list means “you can’t accuse them [the Conservatives] of not supporting diversity”:
https://twitter.com/JaneEllanVannin/status/989773768250699777
The Conservatives have been trying to shed the ‘Nasty Party‘ image for some time. But these allegations of homophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, misogyny, racism and physical abuse, make the party’s chance of doing so quite a distant hope.
The Conservatives also try to convince people that we’re ‘all in it together‘. But this brilliant take-down does a good job of skewering that idea.
It doesn’t stop there
Matt Thomas also gave his followers more detail on the allegations against certain Conservatives:
2.
Coun Dom Peacock Suspended – Said He Would Donate Steam Off His Piss To Jo Cox Fund
Coun Tom Davey – Multiple Abusive Facebook Messages
Coun Chris Joannides Expelled – Comparing Muslim Women To Bin Bags
Coun Gareth Compton Arrested – Said Muslim Should Be Stoned To Death pic.twitter.com/q7DjLSI7j8— Matt Thomas (@Trickyjabs) March 26, 2018
3.
MP James Heappey – Told Schoolgirl To Fuck Off Back To Scotland
Coun Margaret Bassett Suspended – Offensive Online Messages
Coun Val Roberts Suspended – Offensive Social Media Comments
Coun Ken Hawkins Suspended – Suggesting Hanging Grenfell Activists pic.twitter.com/hlEt0is5Gj— Matt Thomas (@Trickyjabs) March 26, 2018
The list goes on and on. Who can forget Boris Johnson’s comments about “picanninies” and “their watermelon smiles”? And that’s the foreign secretary.
Oliver Letwin was forced to apologise for remarking that black people had “bad moral attitudes” when he was an adviser to Margaret Thatcher. He also said they would “set up in the drug and disco trade” if given financial assistance. Letwin is currently the MP for West Dorset.
Diversity of coverage? Don’t hold your breath
Despite this, much of the pre-election media coverage has focused on antisemitism in the Labour party. While anyone guilty of such vile views or actions deserves to be suspended, the coverage has been one-sided. And that makes it look like it’s only the Labour party that has these problems. But, as a Channel 4 report highlighted, perception and reality are often far apart.
These tweets show that the electorate does face a clear choice in the local elections. So, to truly be the diverse and compassionate country we want to be, make sure your voice is heard on 3 May.
Get Involved!
– Read more about the local elections here.
– Join The Canary, so we can keep holding the powerful to account.
Featured image via YouTube.
