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Hitler Youth tweet Labour candidate resigns | Hitler Youth tweet Labour candidate resigns |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Labour parliamentary candidate has resigned after tweeting an image of the Hitler Youth in relation to a protest outside BBC Scotland's HQ. | |
Kathy Wiles, who was due to stand in the 2015 Westminster election, said she wanted to highlight the dangers of using children in political campaigns. | |
Her initial tweet was responding to a picture showing children at the demo wearing pro-independence T-shirts. | |
Ms Wiles has apologised and resigned as a candidate for the seat of Angus. | |
The Labour Party said it would swiftly get a replacement. | |
Ms Wiles posted the contentious Nazi picture in relation to a social media debate about an anti-BBC protest outside BBC Scotland on Sunday afternoon, ahead of the 18 September independence referendum. | |
She was responding to a photo from the protest which showed children standing underneath a promotional banner for pro-"Yes" blog Wings Over Scotland. | She was responding to a photo from the protest which showed children standing underneath a promotional banner for pro-"Yes" blog Wings Over Scotland. |
Replies to the tweet likened the photo to the Hitler Youth, to which Ms Wiles responded with an image showing children gathered around a swastika. | Replies to the tweet likened the photo to the Hitler Youth, to which Ms Wiles responded with an image showing children gathered around a swastika. |
Ms Wiles was criticised by the father of two of the children in the protest photograph. He tweeted: "How dare you compare my children to the Hitler youth, despicable." | Ms Wiles was criticised by the father of two of the children in the protest photograph. He tweeted: "How dare you compare my children to the Hitler youth, despicable." |
Ms Wiles apologised through her Twitter page @KathyWforAngus on Tuesday morning, writing: "I tweeted a picture on Sunday which has caused offence for which I apologise unequivocally. | Ms Wiles apologised through her Twitter page @KathyWforAngus on Tuesday morning, writing: "I tweeted a picture on Sunday which has caused offence for which I apologise unequivocally. |
"My intention was to make a point about the dangers of using young children in political campaigns, not to make any inference about those in the photo." | "My intention was to make a point about the dangers of using young children in political campaigns, not to make any inference about those in the photo." |
She has since deleted her account. | |
Scottish Labour later confirmed it had accepted Ms Wiles's resignation as a parliamentary candidate. | |
A party spokesman said: "We believe that Kathy Wiles has taken the right decision to withdraw in Angus and we will move swiftly to get another candidate in place. | |
"The debate about Scotland's future should be held in a respectful and positive way and we will take robust and immediate action if any of our members fall below these standards." | "The debate about Scotland's future should be held in a respectful and positive way and we will take robust and immediate action if any of our members fall below these standards." |