Facebook page featuring anti Muslim content probed by Ukip local branch

The Loughborough Echo reports on an investigation by UKIP into a Facebook account where a number of anti-Muslim posts have been added under the name of the party’s councillor on Shepshed Town council, Timothy Paul Hicks.

The local paper reports that a Facebook account belonging to someone named Tim Paul Hicks featured a number of posts and images which made derogatory references to Muslims between Sunday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 20.

The local paper has chosen not to reproduce the images or print full details of the posts because they are “too offensive” but describes some of the posts found on the page. They include images of “a dog wearing a towel as a veil, a hand grenade, and a tiara over the top of a full veil, all of which included tasteless captions aimed at the Muslim faith.”

The Facebook page profile states that the account holder “works as a UKIP town councillor, lives in Shepshed and is: “An outspoken individual who dislikes Political Correctness as it was invented by a RETARD.”

The page also features “other non-controversial shares and photos of Councillor Tim Hicks on UKIP surgery duty which have been shared by Charnwood UKIP Facebook page.”

The paper contacted Cllr Tim Hicks about the page and the material found on it on Monday 25 July at 5.23pm. The councillor responded with “no comment” and the page itself was deleted at 6.26pm the same evening.

The paper reports that it has photographic copies of the posts which appeared on the page and which are now under investigation by UKIP’s Charnwood branch.

Chairman for the Charnwood and Loughborough branch of UKIP, Dr Andy McWilliam, said it was the first time the material had been brought to his attention and that he would have to examine the claims.

“I have tried to search for the posts but can no longer seem to find them”, he said.

“Any abusive or racist comments are not something that we accept at any level within our party and certainly not from someone in the position of Mr Hicks.

“We will need to examine and investigate the claim and any breaching of the rules will be dealt with in line with the party rules, and we are second to none in dealing with any abusive or racial comment accordingly,” he added.

It is not clear if the material has been brought to the attention of Shepshed Town Council too and whether there is any related investigation into a possible breach of the council’s equality and diversity policy.