A MEMBER of the Warrington4Brexit group who was a candidate for the European elections for the Brexit Party has resigned after Claire Fox refused to apologise for her previous support for the IRA.

Sally Bate, from Stockton Heath, was one of the eight Brexit candidates for the north west - alongside Ms Fox.

Ms Fox's views and comments at the time of the Warrington bombing in 1993 have been met with anger this week.

Fox, who lives in London, is a former core activist and organiser for the Revolutionary Communist Party.

After the 1993 bombing, which killed Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball, the Revolutionary Communist Party’s official newsletter stated that they defended 'the right of the Irish people to take whatever measures necessary in their struggle for freedom'.

READ > Brexit candidate refuses to apologise over views on Warrington bombing

Fox was also a member of the Irish Freedom Movement, which backed dissident republicanism.

Now Ms Bate, who was seventh on the list of eight Brexit candidates for the north west, says she has resigned from the party saying she was unhappy with Fox's statement where she showed sympathy for the family of Tim Parry but failed to apologise.

Ms Bate said: "I refer to the statement made by my fellow candidate Claire Fox about the position of her former party the Revolutionary Communist Party on the Warrington Bombing by the IRA in 1993.

"I am unhappy with Claire's statement since she has not categorically condemned the violence inflicted by the IRA.

"I stand by Colin Parry and his family and all victims of the Warrington bomb and in view of Claire's ambiguous position on the issue I cannot continue to stand beside her as a Brexit candidate and resign with immediate effect."

Mr Parry said on Twitter that he spoke with Ms Fox on the phone on Wednesday but said she refused to disavow her comments proving 'she hasn't changed her original view'.

I give some credit to @Fox_Claire for having the gumption to call me today but the fact that she repeatedly refused to disavow her comments supporting the IRA bombing which took Tim’s and Johnathan’s young lives proves she hasn’t changed her original views — Colin Parry OBE (@ColinParryPeace) 1 May 2019

The European elections are due to take place on Thursday, May 23.

Warrington councillor and Change UK European Candidate Dan Price, praised Sally Bate for doing the right thing and resigning.

“Nigel Farage has shown incredible ignorance in sending an IRA apologist up from London to stand in the North West as a Brexit Party candidate," he said.

"He’s badly misjudged the mood in our town. Whatever our disagreements on Brexit, Sally is absolutely right to resign and she has my respect for doing so.

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"Everyone in Warrington is united against terrorism and it’s unthinkable that someone with Claire Fox’s views could represent people here.

“The fact that Claire Fox has rubbed salt in the wounds by phoning Colin Parry and repeatedly refused to disavow her comments supporting the IRA bombing in Warrington is a further reminder that she is not fit for public office.

"I’m afraid the mask is now slipping on Farage’s nasty new venture.

"There cannot be any room in British politics for people who justify killing children for ideological means.”

Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice said, "I'm very sorry that Sally Bate has decided to resign as a candidate."

Heidi Allen, the leader of Remain-backing Change UK, welcomed Ms Bate's move and called for Ms Fox to be dumped as a candidate.

"Well done to Sally Bate for a principled decision," said Ms Allen.

"Claire Fox's refusal to condemn the Warrington IRA bombing is totally unacceptable. Nigel Farage must remove her from the Brexit Party list. It is without question, that we all stand together with the victims of that atrocity."