Labour candidate sacked over Twitter rants

Stuart MacLennan, who was standing in the Moray constituency in Scotland, not only targeted political rivals in his foul mouthed rants but also Labour Party colleagues.

He also used the social networking site to brand locals “chavs” and made jokes about slaves.

In one comment he branded the elderly “coffin dodgers” and in another complained about being “up north again” in his constituency.

The 24-year-old prospective MP apologised for what he described as his “very silly” behaviour, but was sacked by the party which said a new candidate would now be contesting the safe SNP seat.

Among the most offensive postings were comments in which he branded House of Commons speaker John Bercow a “t***” and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg a “b******” and Labour MP Dianne Abbot, a “f******” idiot.

In one tweet he remarked: “God this fair-trade, organic banana is s***. Can I have a slave grown, chemically enhanced, genetically modified one please?”

Moray’s current MP, Angus Robertson, of the SNP, who is defending a majority of 5,676, said “It is totally unacceptable for Labour to describe or even think of senior citizens as ‘coffin dodgers’.”,

He said: “I do not understand why such a senior Labour Party adviser has attacked pensioners, potential constituents and insulted political colleagues and foes alike.

Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie described the comments made by MacLennan as “disgraceful”, continuing  “At the very time the public are calling for politicians to clean up politics Labour remain in the gutter.”

In a statement Mr MacLennan, who studied at Edinburgh University before becoming a taxation lawyer, said: “Some of the things I twittered before I became a candidate were very, very silly and I can see they are offensive. I have let myself and my friends down and am really sorry.”

This matter proves that whilst all of the parties are trying to embrace Obama led social media tactics to drive up their vote all comments need to be appropriate at all times and there is never an ‘off duty’

Photo: Allan Milligan via Labour Central Office