ories drop candidate who sent ‘Aryan race’ tweet to Jewish Labour MP Charlotte Nichols

A Conservative council candidate who sent a message to a Jewish Labour MP about the “Aryan race” will no longer be standing for the party.

Sharon Thomason, who was to contest a seat on Warrington Borough Council, tweeted “Keep the Aryan race going…” at Charlotte Nichols on 29 February last year.

In another post from the summer Ms Thomason had suggested building a statue of Enoch Powell, who gave the infamous “rivers of blood” speech in 1968.

Local council leader Russ Bowden criticised the comments as “disgusting and inexcusable conduct”, while Ms Nichols herself said they gave “a feel for the calibre of candidates [the Conservatives are] selecting locally”.

The Conservative Party said it had taken action “swiftly and immediately” to remove the candidate.

“Warrington Conservatives condemns all forms of racism, including antisemitism, they have no place in our party,” a spokesperson said.

“We can confirm that the candidate in question will not be standing for the party at the local elections and is no longer a member.”

The idea of the “Aryan race” is a concept in Nazi ideology and racial theories of the 19th century.

Ms Thomason had made the comments in response to a tweet by Ms Nichols noting that Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds were expecting a baby.

Labour MP Angela Rayner said: “The promotion and propagation of a core tenet of racist Nazi ideology is completely unacceptable and has no place in our politics.

“I am horrified that someone who has publicly promoted these views has been selected as a Conservative Party candidate.”

In a reply to Ms Rayner, Tory MP Amanda Milling, co-chair of the Conservative Party, said the party member had been suspended and that the message was “totally unacceptable”.

In a statement, the Jewish Labour Movement said: “Solidarity to our member Charlotte Nichols. This antisemitic abuse from a Conservative council candidate is appalling.”