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General election 2019: Karl McCartney apologises over retweets General election 2019: Karl McCartney apologises over retweets
(4 months later)
A Conservative election candidate has apologised for retweeting posts from former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson. A Conservative election candidate has apologised for retweeting posts from supporters of former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson.
Campaign group Hope Not Hate said Karl McCartney shared several posts from Mr Robinson and far-right commentator Katie Hopkins.Campaign group Hope Not Hate said Karl McCartney shared several posts from Mr Robinson and far-right commentator Katie Hopkins.
The posts, it said, contained "anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic material".The posts, it said, contained "anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic material".
Hope Not Hate has called for Mr McCartney to be suspended as the candidate for Lincoln.Hope Not Hate has called for Mr McCartney to be suspended as the candidate for Lincoln.
In a statement, Mr McCartney said: "I apologise unreservedly. In no way do I endorse the tweets or the accounts behind them. I accept retweeting them was ill judged and could cause offence.In a statement, Mr McCartney said: "I apologise unreservedly. In no way do I endorse the tweets or the accounts behind them. I accept retweeting them was ill judged and could cause offence.
"This divisive figure [Mr Robinson] has no place in our politics or public life.""This divisive figure [Mr Robinson] has no place in our politics or public life."
'Spreading hate''Spreading hate'
Hope Not Hate said Mr McCartney retweeted "far-right propaganda" from Mr Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - and Ms Hopkins, over a "sustained period" starting in 2018.Hope Not Hate said Mr McCartney retweeted "far-right propaganda" from Mr Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - and Ms Hopkins, over a "sustained period" starting in 2018.
Chief executive Nick Lowles said: "There's no excuse for promoting far-right propaganda, spreading the hateful views of a thug like Tommy Robinson or the vile comments of Katie Hopkins.Chief executive Nick Lowles said: "There's no excuse for promoting far-right propaganda, spreading the hateful views of a thug like Tommy Robinson or the vile comments of Katie Hopkins.
"[It] demonstrates that Karl McCartney isn't fit to be an MP.""[It] demonstrates that Karl McCartney isn't fit to be an MP."
He added that Mr McCartney had failed to explain why he would have promoted such views in the first place.He added that Mr McCartney had failed to explain why he would have promoted such views in the first place.
It is not the first time Mr McCartney has come under fire for his Twitter activity.It is not the first time Mr McCartney has come under fire for his Twitter activity.
In 2014, he said his account had been hacked, blaming Twitter security changes, after he was accused of "favouriting" a pornographic image.In 2014, he said his account had been hacked, blaming Twitter security changes, after he was accused of "favouriting" a pornographic image.
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