The Corbyn Heckler Who Yelled 'Terrorist Sympathiser' Was 'Behind Torrent Of Bigoted Tweets'

Church of Scotland launches investigation after Rev Richard Cameron said to have posted Islamophobic and homophobic messages.
LOADINGERROR LOADING

A church minister who yelled “terrorist sympathiser” at Jeremy Corbyn on the campaign trail is allegedly behind a string of racist and homophobic tweets.

The Labour leader was in Glasgow when Church of Scotland minister Rev Richard Cameron began loudly heckling him in front of TV cameras.

A clip of the incident went viral, but allegations have since emerged that Cameron had previously posted several Islamophobic and homophobic tweets, including one that appeared to call LGBT rights “a tragedy”, and now the Church of Scotland is investigating.

The account also posted messages supportive of the Brexit Party and, after Boris Johnson’s new hardline deal was agreed, the Conservative Party.

But, appearing to pick out Corbyn’s tartan scarf in Glasgow, Cameron said: “I thought you’d be wearing your Islamic jihad scarf. Are you not invited to the funeral?”

He then continued to shout at Corbyn, accusing him of “running away”, as the Labour leader turned his back to leave the area.

“Do you think the man that’s going to be prime minister of this country should be a terrorist sympathiser, Mr Corbyn?” he could be heard to say.

“Who’s going to be the first terrorist invited to the House of Commons when you’re prime minister? Aye, he’s running away.”

A string of posts was later highlighted on Twitter by Labour campaigner Owen Jones.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said it had received numerous complaints about the social media posts and was looking into them.

“There has been significant concern raised today about the comments made by Rev Richard Cameron and his social media use,” a spokesman said.

“At this stage all we can say is that there is a formal complaints process and that any complaints we receive in relation to this matter will be taken seriously and addressed.

“We do deplore any comments which are Islamophobic or homophobic.”

HuffPost UK has asked the church for comment about the social media allegation.

Corbyn has previously faced criticisms that he met with Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams in the 1990s. Labour has always said the meetings took place in order to bring about talks, which later led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Corbyn, who supports rights for Palestinian people, was also accused of being at a wreath-laying service in 2014 where, it was claimed, individuals behind the group that carried out the Munich Olympic massacre were honoured.

The Labour leader said the event in Tunisia was aimed at remembering victims of the 1985 Israeli airstrike in Tunis.

Labour said claimed that Corbyn was honouring “others killed by Mossad agents in Paris”. In response to a question at the time Corbyn said he was “present” at a wreath-laying in Tunis, adding “I don’t think I was actually involved in it.”

Labour rejects any claim that Corbyn is sympathetic to any terrorist campaign and state that he has consistently campaigned for peace throughout his time as MP for Islington North.

It comes as all party leaders head out around the country in a bid to drum up votes ahead of the December 12 general election.

Close

What's Hot