ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A Brexit Party candidate who wants to take Jeremy Corbyn’s seat was today accused of discriminating against people with learning disabilities after he used a series of offensive terms targeting disabled people.

James Heartfield, a historian and writer, told one opponent in an online debate about business in February: “This is such a retarded argument that you are now forever fixed in my mind as a drooling, f***-witted sack of sh**.”

Mr Heartfield was unveiled as a candidate for the Islington North seat as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage gears up for a general election.

Ciara Lawrence, who has a learning disability and works for the charity Mencap, said: “No one should be using this disgusting and harmful language in our society, especially not someone who wants to stand for election to become a Member of Parliament and represent people, including people with a learning disability.”

In another Twitter spat about the European Union, in December 2018, Mr Heartfield told someone: “Ok — well f*** off then, you spastic c***.”

He used the word “retard” to insult people in at least five conversations.

Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people Marsha de Cordova, who is visually impaired, said: “Disabled people already face significant barriers daily with hate crime on the rise.

"To have this magnified by someone who hopes to be a public figure is beyond grim.

"It is not as though this was a one-off comment from years ago, James Heartfield made repeated hideous comments in the public domain just a few months ago.”

Police figures this year revealed online disability hate crime was at record levels in England and Wales after surging by a third in one year.

Mr Heartfield used to be a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party and was previously a supporter of Mr Corbyn. He decided to stand against the Labour leader in his Islington North seat because of his stance on the EU.

When approached at his home in Archway, Mr Heartfield said: “I have sometimes said rude things on Twitter in the heat of an argument, which I shouldn’t have. My sincere apologies to anyone I have offended.”

A Brexit Party spokesman said: “The party understands that Mr Heartfield has apologised fulsomely and he absolutely needed to.

“Of course, these are comments made before the existence of the Brexit Party, when he was a well known, robust commentator. When he was only responsible for his own actions.

"Since he has been a candidate he understands that he is not just responsible for himself.”

The Brexit Party was registered last November and formally announced in January.

Mr Heartfield used the word “retarded” in tweets as recently as March. He was announced as a candidate for the European elections in May.