Conservative activist accuses party of bullying and harassment in tweets scheduled to publish after sudden death

Jade Smith, 21, found dead in circumstances police say not suspicious

The Conservative Party has said it will investigate the death of a young activist who posted bullying allegations on social media before she died.

Jade Smith, 21, from Redcar in North Yorkshire, wrote tweets urging the party to change “for young people’s sake” before she was found dead in circumstances Cleveland Police have said were not suspicious.

The posts were timed to publish on Wednesday, three days after her body was discovered at cliffs in the coastal town of Saltburn.

Ms Smith was an active Tory supporter who described herself as “a young woman involved in politics trying to do what’s right for Redcar”.

Last year she appeared in The Mighty Redcar, a BBC documentary about her home town, in which she showed the film crew a tattoo on her leg reading: “I love Boris Johnson.”

The programme’s director, Dan Dewsbury, paid tribute to her as “passionate, brilliant and talented” following her death.

“It’s terribly sad that, at the end, you felt so alone,” he added.

In a series of posts which appeared on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Smith spoke of difficult circumstances in her family life and job.

She also appealed to the Conservatives, writing: “This is the last time I’ll ever have a platform to ask them to change, to beg them for young people’s sake to change.”

The tweets alleged she suffered bullying, abuse and harassment within the party from the age of 17.

She also claimed activists had been sexually assaulted, adding: “There’s a reason we don’t feel safe at conference.”

Ms Smith’s Twitter account has since been deactivated.

In 2016 the activist quit the Conservatives, alleging she had been “victimised and bullied,” claims which were denied at the time. She later rejoined the party.

Simon Clarke, the Tory MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said Ms Smith’s bullying allegations would be taken “incredibly seriously” by the party.

He said he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the activist’s death, describing her as ”a remarkable and complex person”.

Mr Clarke added: “She would be the first to say she had made some mistakes, but she also had real qualities – not least a fierce work ethic, a mischievous sense of humour and a passionate love of our area.”

Anna Turley, the Labour MP for Redcar, said Ms Smith was “bright and ferocious” and she had admired “her independent thought, commitment and passion”.

A Conservative spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of Jade Smith at this extremely difficult time.

“We take all allegations of bullying or harassment incredibly seriously and are looking into the circumstances surrounding this deeply tragic incident.”

The Conservatives launched an inquiry in 2015 following the suicide of 21-year-old Elliott Johnson, a campaigner who alleged he had been bullied by former parliamentary candidate Mark Clarke. Mr Clarke, who denied the claims, was expelled from the party.

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