Tories pick ex-BNP candidate who wrote vile messages about Meghan Markle

12 April 2023 , 16:37

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Meghan Markle was described by Tory candidate Andrew McBride as a "poisonous b***h” (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The Tories have picked an ex-BNP candidate who wrote vile messages about Meghan Markle for the local elections.

Andrew McBride last night was suspended by the party but it is too late to remove him from the ballot paper where he will be listed as standing for the Conservatives.

Mr McBride was selected as a candidate in Bracknell for next month’s local elections despite previously working as a regional organiser for the BNP.

He also stood for the far-right party at a local council election.

Mr McBride’s hate-filled Twitter account includes several offensive posts about the Duchess of Sussex and Muslims.

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“Muslimes (sic) haven't done anything to improve Britain other than to retard it!” he wrote in one message.

Andrew McBride will be listed on the ballot paper as a Tory candidate despite his hate-filled Twitter posts

In another he described the Royal as a “poisonous b***h”.

He also urged Prince Harry to “go and sort that racist x**t (sic) of a wife out mate!”

When Mr McBride was a regional organiser for the BNP he defended the party, saying: “We are not a racist party, colour or religion is not important to us, but we feel that British people are not getting enough access to housing and jobs.”

Dr Roy Bailey, the chairman of Bracknell Labour, said Mr McBride’s selection showed the Tory Party is now “a right-wing nationalist populist party, which is clearly no longer fit for government”.

“We believe that the local Tories have made a serious error of judgement and call upon them now to apologise to local voters for choosing a candidate with extreme right-wing and discredited views,” he added.

Gerry Barber, chairman of Bracknell Conservative Association, said Mr McBride’s party membership had been “suspended pending a full investigation”.

“We are now aware that it is too late to formally withdraw a candidate, however we can confirm that if elected Mr McBride would be denied the Conservative whip,” he added.

“To ensure that lessons are learnt for the future we have voluntarily asked the regional team to review the selections process relating to candidates standing for election in Bracknell.”

Voters will go to the polls on May 4. In total, 8,141 council seats are up for grabs in 230 councils across England.

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John Stevens