Tory politician sparks fury with 'racist' Ian Wright tweet over Gary Lineker row
A Conservative politician has been plunged into a race row after calling ex-footballer and TV pundit Ian Wright a “typical black hypocrite”.
Alexis McEvoy, a councillor in the New Forest, Hampshire, sent the 'racist' tweet about the former Arsenal player to her 500 followers on Twitter on Saturday afternoon.
The tweet has since been deleted and her Twitter account deactivated.
Her tweet came amid the row over Gary Lineker’s online criticism of government policy, and his subsequent removal as a Match of the Day presenter before BBC chiefs backed down following a public outcry.
She wrote “A typical black hypocrite” quoting a tweet claiming a lack of solidarity when Matt Le Tissier was let go from Sky - after he made claims over the origins of the Covid pandemic.
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But Ms McEvoy insisted to the Advertiser and Times that her comments had been “taken out of context”.
The tweet sent by the Conservative councillor (twitter)She said: "I've removed the tweet now, and it was taken out of context.
"I'm not really going to comment on it. I've had enough of it, quite frankly – people like [Liberal Democrat] Cllr Jack Davies trying to portray me in a bad light."
Mr Davis has written to Tory leader Jill Cleary urging her to take action over the shocking incident.
He added that the tweet "encourage division and racism" and had "outraged a number of people who read it".
Today she has said she reported herself for an investigation and suspended herself from the Tory party.
In a belated apology, Ms McEvoy has reportedly claimed she finds racism in any form "abhorrent".
She said: “I am aware that a tweet I sent, and then deleted, has caused offence. I did not mean it to do so and I am deeply sorry. I find racism in any form abhorrent, I have therefore reported myself to the Monitoring Officer at both Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council and have suspended myself from both the Conservative Groups at New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council pending investigations.”
Following being confronted over the tweet, Ms McEvoy complained no one was talking about “all the good things” she’s done for people “whatever colour they are”.
TV pundit and former England international footballer Gary Lineker became the headline news after he criticised government policy (Getty Images)Ian Wright was the first pundit to pull from BBC’s weekend sports coverage, triggering a mass exodus of talking heads, commentators and presenters that led to the BBC backtracking.
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This comes after the BBC backed down earlier today, and agreed to let Gary Lineker back onto the air to present Match of the Day without apologising.
It began when the former pro-footballer criticised the government's new migration bill that is trying to tackle small boat arrivals.
He said: "Good heavens this is beyond awful.
"There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?"
TV pundit Ian Wright pulled out of Match of the Day in 'solidarity' with Gary Lineker (PA)He criticised the latest government bill that will try to detain and deport all people who arrive in the UK illegally, as questions have been raised as to what legal routes remain for refugees fleeing war and persecution.
Members of the government and swathes of right wing press took fire at the presenter due to the BBC's impartiality rules, an organisation Lineker works for as a freelancer, and he was eventually pulled from Match of the Day over the weekend after he refused to say sorry.
However, his co-presenters and colleagues across BBC sport, including commentators and other presenters, also pulled out in solidarity.
Then after its sports coverage was reduced to almost nothing, the BBC eventually doubled back as director general Tim Davie, a former Tory chairman and candidate, apologised for what happened caused by the "grey areas of the BBC's social media guidance", he said.
Gary Lineker said: "After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this.
"I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming."
He added: "A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you."
Councillor Jill Cleary, Leader of the Conservative Group at New Forest District Council said: “Following receipt of a number of complaints regarding a social media post made (and then deleted) by Councillor Alexis McEvoy on her personal social media account, Councillor McEvoy is suspended from the District Council’s Conservative Group pending investigation.”
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