Newport East UKIP candidate stands down over offensive Facebook posts

Categories: Latest News
Tuesday February 03 2015
BBC News, ITV News and the South Wales Argus all report on the resignation of Donald Grewar, UKIP’s candidate for the Newport East parliamentary seat.
Grewar was challenged by the UKIP party chairman for Newport East for posts uploaded onto his Facebook page which expressed support for the English Defence League.
Grewar was alleged to have responded to an EDL post stating “no surrender to militant Islam or political correctness” with the comment: “Thus sais it all [sic]… the mood of the nation… well done EDL”
The news reports reveal the details of the letter sent by Grewar to UKIP party chairman, Steve Crowther, apologising for the post and withdrawing his candidature. Grewar wrote, “I am sad to have to be writing this letter, but I have come to the conclusion that, following the revelation of some comments that I posted on the Internet a while ago that I have to reconsider my position as the PPC for Newport East.
“I recognise fully that those comments, and the implications of those comments, puts me in breach of the party rules. I had forgotten that I had posted them, but I had.
“I am truly sorry that my foolishness has caused you, the party and me embarrassment.”
UKIP’s constitution prohibits members from association with far right organisations including the EDL, Britain First and the BNP, among others.