Tory council candidate quits over anti-Islamic and homophobic Twitter posts

 
Resignation: David Bishop

A Tory council candidate has resigned from the party after making anti-Islamic and homophobic comments.

David Bishop quit the party after posting comments on Twitter including: "It's good to be anti-Islam."

Mr Bishop, who was standing as the Tory candidate in Brentwood South in Essex, said he "unreservedly" apologised, and would not be asking anyone to vote for him on May 22.

Two days after being named the Tory candidate, the local DJ reposted a tweet made from another account which cited the arrest of four Muslim men over the rape of a 14-year-old girl before adding "'£Islam 'the religion of peace' & rape", the Brentwood Gazette reported.

In a statement on the Brentwood and Ongar Conservative Association (BOCA) website, he said he hoped people would forgive his "lack of judgement" over the tweets.

He said: "I unreservedly apologise for publishing inappropriate tweets and re-tweets and I am sorry for the real offence caused.

"I recognise that someone standing for public office should show leadership and seek to unite communities, not divide them. I hope the residents of Brentwood South can forgive my lack of judgement in time."

He continued: "I have let myself and my Party down and in order to avoid any further embarrassment, I have taken the decision to resign from the Conservative Party with immediate effect. I will not be asking anyone to vote for me on 22nd May.

"I wish the Conservative Party all the best for the future."

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