Friday, November 12, 2010

The ‘Curse of Twitter’ claims another victim, Tory Councillor Gareth Compton, be careful what you witter on twitter, it’s a political graveyard












Dear All

Twitter is turning into a political graveyard for politicians.

Councillor Gareth Compton has been suspended by the Conservative Party while the allegedly “racially motivated” message is investigated.

He had the misfortune and poor judgement to witter on twitter:

“Can someone please stone Yasmin Alibhai-Brown to death? I shan't tell Amnesty if you don't. It would be a blessing, really.”

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is a journalist.

After his witter on twitter, he was arrested by West Midlands Police.

What upset him was listening to Miss Alibai-Brown on Nicky Campbell's Radio 5 Live breakfast show; she opined that no politician was morally qualified to comment on human rights abuses.

She is talking out her arse, regardless of politics there are a great many people in politics who take the issue of human rights seriously and they have the same human right to speak out as anyone else.

Shortly afterwards, Mr. Compton apologised on Twitter, saying:

“I did not 'call' for the stoning of anybody. I made an ill-conceived attempt at humour in response to Yasmin Alibhai-Brown saying on Radio 5 Live that no politician had the right to comment on human rights abuses, even the stoning of women in Iran. I apologize (sic) for any offence caused. It was wholly unintentional.”

And he deleted his profile on Twitter.

Upon hearing his comments, Miss Alibhai-Brown said that the remarks amounted to “incitement to murder” and as a Muslim of Indian descent, his remarks could be seen to be "racially motivated".

I think looking at this as an outsider that the Crown Office in England won’t be pressing charges on incitement to murder or that this is racially motivated either.

But Compton has been arrested under section 127 (1a) of the Communications Act of 2003 on suspicion of sending an offensive or indecent message.

Mike Whitby, Birmingham City Council and Conservative group leader said:

"These comments were unacceptable and the party has taken decisive action on this matter by suspending the individual, which we accept and agree with.”

And Steve McCabe, Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak said:

“His despicable comments on Twitter show that he has no place in public office. This sorry saga calls into question the leadership of the Conservative Party at all levels.”

Will Steve McCabe be calling for all the Labour MPs who twittered on the violent student protest to leave public office?


Does Steve McCabe believe this sorry saga calls into question the leadership of the Labour Party at all levels?

Based on his criteria, it probably does!

So, if anyone is in public office, don’t tweet and stay sweet.

This public service message was written by George Laird who doesn’t tweet.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi George

As a person who well researched what's your take on:

http://thescum.info/2010/02/28/revealed-british-premier-gordon-brown-is-a-paedophile/

'Cat amongst pigeons' comes to mind.