Warwick District Councillor councillor suspended over offensive Eurovision tweet

[dutchman]

Nick Harrington has now been suspended from the Conservative party on Warwick District Council for six months



A councillor has been suspended after an offensive tweet about Irish people and gypsies appeared on his account during the Eurovision Song Contest.

Nick Harrington has been suspended from the Conservatives on Warwick District Council for six months, the leader of the group told the Telegraph today.

An internal investigation is now planned.

The tweet said: “#Eurovision2017. Thanks Ireland. You can keep your f’king gypsies!”

The tweet also said a “hard border” was coming, a reference to stricter border controls behind the UK and Ireland post-Brexit.

Mr Harrington’s account, along with the tweet, has since been deleted but not before it was screengrabbed and retweeted by others.

The tweet seems to have been prompted by the fact that none of the Irish judges voted for the British song to win and because of the way the votes are counted it’s unclear whether the Irish public voted for the song.

Cllr Andrew Mobbs (Con, Park Hill), leader of Warwick District Council, and who heads the council’s Conservative group, told us: “I find these comments completely unacceptable.

“I have had a number of people contact me by telephone and e mail this morning with concerns and I have suspended councillor Harrington from the Conservative group on Warwick District Council for six months. There will be in investigation.”

Mr Harrington represents the Stoneleigh and Cubbington ward on Warwick District Council.

He also volunteers as a magistrate and is director at Leamington based company Ambay Software.

The controversial tweet gained 11 retweets and 13 likes, along with scores of condemnations.

People condemning the tweet pointed out how many people or Irish origins live in the UK and how many people born in the UK live in Ireland. Bob Geldof was named an example.

Among those outraged by the tweet was former Pride of Coventry & Warwickshire winner Daniel Browne, who tweeted: “He should be removed from his position immediately.”

One tweeter claimed to have reported the tweet to their local police.

Another highlighted internet safety sessions run in schools reminding children whatever they post on the internet is likely to stay there forever.

The Telegraph has tried to contact Mr Harrington for a comment.

[rebbonk]

What a nation of bl**dy snowflakes we've become!

[dutchman]

Eurovision Song Contest gyspy tweet magistrate resigns from court duties

The Tory councillor at the centre of a Eurovision Song Contest Twitter storm has resigned as a magistrate.

Cllr Nick Harrington, who represents the Conservative Party on Warwick District Council, will no longer sit as a magistrate after handing in his resignation this morning.

A statement from the judicial office said: “I have just been informed that Mr Harrington resigned this morning with immediate effect and will no longer sit as a magistrate.”

Mr Harrington has also been suspended indefinitely by the Conservative Party to allow an investigation to take place.

He had already been suspended by the local party for six months, but the matter has now apparently been taken out of their hands.

Cllr Harrington also faces a police investigation after Warwickshire Police confirmed they were looking into the matter.

[Melisandre]

There I thought we lived in a free speach country how wrong I thought he is only saying what more or less most others say some people should get a back bone and it seems this kind of thing always works one way. Shame he resigned.

[dutchman]

Eurovision row councillor resigns over racist tweet


Christine Ohuruogu

A Conservative councillor who wrote a racist tweet during the Eurovision Song Contest has resigned.

Nick Harrington, who sat on Warwick District Council, has apologised for causing "considerable offence to both members of the traveller community and to those of Irish heritage".

He also apologised to athlete Christine Ohuruogu for an "ill-judged" comment he made last year on Facebook.

He has already quit as a magistrate.

In the tweet Mr Harrington made during Eurovision, he said that Ireland could keep its gypsies, using strong language.

In the post on Facebook, he likened Ohuruogu to a black scarecrow.

In a statement in which he apologised "unreservedly", he said: "My comments about the Irish border were also foolish.

"In addition there have been comments about my Facebook post of an entry in a scarecrow competition last year which was based on the Olympics. I accept this was ill-judged for which I apologise to Christine Ohuruogu.

"Therefore it is with deep regret that I formally tender my resignation as member for Stoneleigh and Cubbington ward effective immediately."

He added he was "devastated" by what he had done.

Mr Harrington's Twitter account was deleted after the Eurovision furore but his remarks were widely retweeted.

Police are investigating and are treating what happened as a suspected hate crime.

Council leader Andrew Mobbs initially suspended Mr Harrington for six months, saying his behaviour was unacceptable.

He said on Wednesday that his resignation was "entirely appropriate" and he awaited the outcome of a police investigation.

"I am very disappointed that his comment was made in the first place and by the reaction it generated towards the district council on social media," he added.

[rebbonk]

Police are investigating...

Shame Plod hasn't got any real crimes to pursue instead of getting all investigative about a few words that someone (not necessarily the subject) has gotten all offended by.

Time to grow up!