Tory election candidate shared Islamophobic message claiming Muslims have ‘nasty culture’

Conservative accuses Labour candidate of 'trying to shut me up by crying Islamophobia'

A Conservative parliamentary candidate shared messages on social media claiming there are “no-go areas” in Bradford and that Muslims have a “nasty culture”.

Linden Kemkaran, the Tory candidate for Bradford East, retweeted a number of posts as part of a row with Naz Shah, Labour’s shadow minister for women and equalities.

In one of those posts, a user accused Muslims of playing the “race card” with Islamophobia.

“Muslims always the victim, play race card, ‘Islamophobia’, what a crock, what a nasty culture,” the user wrote.

The retweets, which have since been unshared, come amid concern over Islamophobia in the Conservative Party after the Muslim Council of Britain accused the party of having a “blind spot for this type of racism” and failing to take action against it.

Ms Shah tweeted that the Tory candidate was peddling “Islamophobic conspiracy about ‘no go areas’”, prompting Ms Kemkaran to reply by telling the shadow minister: “Please @NazShahBfd don’t bother trying to shut me up by crying ‘Islamophobia’, or calling me a racist.”

On Monday, Ms Kemkaran referred to the "nasty culture" tweet in a reply to a different post.

“Can I just make it absolutely clear that I didn't and never would describe Islam or any other culture as ‘nasty,’” she wrote.

“I'm the product of a multi-cultural/heritage background and a constant promoter of diversity and equality.”

Ms Shah wrote to Conservative chairman James Cleverly demanding the immediate suspension of Ms Kemkaran and a full investigation into her comments.

"To peddle these far-right tropes - especially by an individual standing for office - is not only irresponsible but hugely dangerous for minority communities," wrote Ms Shah.

"Whether your party has a 'robust mechanism' and is 'swift' in dealing with cases of Islamophobia will be truly seen through this case."

The Independent has approached Ms Kemkaran for further comment on the retweeted posts.

Mr Cleverly apologised on Sunday for cases of Islamophobia in the party and said he was “sorry” when Tory candidates “do or say things that are wrong”.

However, he was reluctant to criticise Boris Johnson for an article in which the prime minister said Muslim women wearing burkas “look like letterboxes”.

In November, Mr Johnson apologised for any "hurt and offence" caused by Islamophobia in the party.

The Tory candidate is attempting to overturn a 20,500 vote majority to defeat Labour’s Imran Hussain in the Bradford East constituency.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "This matter is being investigated. Discrimination or abuse of any kind is wrong, and the Conservative Party takes decisive action to deal with any incidents of hatred, abuse or intimidation.

“Our complaints process is rightly a confidential one but there are a wide range of sanctions to challenge and change behaviour, including conditions to undertake training, periods of suspension and expulsion, and these are applied on a case-by-case basis.”