EXCL Tory councillor suspended after sharing 'Muslim parasites’ article

Liz Bates

A Tory councillor has been suspended after it emerged he shared an article calling Muslims “parasites” who “live off the state and breed like rabbits”.



Calderdale councillor Mike Payne posted the article, entitled ‘France Slashes Benefits to Muslim Parasites by 83%’, on his Facebook and Twitter accounts in 2013.

He yesterday defended his actions when confronted over the historic posts by a Labour councillor, saying his family was “half French” and complaining that immigration in the country was “a specific problem”.

The article states: “You know things are bad when even the socialists are fed up with having to support the Muslim freeloaders. It seems that immigration policies of France, are seriously changing.

“The country is no longer able to hold back the crowd of Muslim invaders, many of whom do not want to integrate into the social and economic life of their new home country, and are content to live off the state and breed like rabbits.”

France Slashes Benefits to Muslim Parasites by 83% http://t.co/KinUA666Hh — Mike Payne (@SowerbyBlue) June 16, 2013





I didn’t say that at all. The article refers to the impact of uncontrolled immigration in France. My family is half French and this is a specific problem. You appear to be trolling me? Better you concentrate on your own party than drag stuff up by going back 5 years. — Mike Payne (@SowerbyBlue) April 3, 2018

In a statement today, a Conservative party spokesman said: “Mr Payne has been suspended by the Party pending an investigation.”

Shadow Justice Minister Yasmin Qureshi attacked the councillor for sharing the article, telling PoliticsHome: “Language like this is wholly offensive and has no place in politics or our community.

“The use of ‘parasite’ is a vile slur, leaving the Tories with questions to answer over how they handle this case.

“If Theresa May doesn’t want the public to think the Tories are the Nasty Party, she needs to take appropriate action immediately.”

Mr Payne also engaged with a recent Twitter post which showed a crowd of mostly black and ethnic minority people and said Britain used to be 99.95% white.

The Tory councillor replied: “I think it might have something to do with uncontrolled immigration policies put in place by successive Labour governments perhaps?”

I dunno mate but I think it might have had something to do with uncontrolled immigration policies put in place by successive labour Governments perhaps? — Mike Payne (@SowerbyBlue) April 1, 2018

Mr Payne was not available for comment when contacted by PoliticsHome today.