Councillor denies sending “racist” tweet

Jun 29 2012 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Friday

Councillor denies sending “racist” tweet

A COUNCILLOR is at the centre of a racism storm over an alleged post on social networking site Twitter.

But Conservative member Gail Macgregor says she is the victim of a stitch-up and has reported the matter to police.

The situation blew up on Wednesday after a screenshot emerged of a tweet posted by someone who says they are a member of far right group, the English Defence League (EDL).

It was a racist joke about Muslims.

But the Twitter screenshot appeared to show that Ms Macgregor had laughed at it.

A reply, under her @TenaciousTory nickname stated that she sniggers at the posting from the EDL member.

But she claims that another tweeter has made it look as if she was involved by creating the screenshot.

The councillor has now deleted her Twitter account. It means none of her previous postings can be seen.

Yesterday, she told the Standard: It is two separate tweets that were very cleverly over-laid by this lady.

She has a history and has harassed other people.

She obviously tracks people on Twitter and has been involved in this sort of thing with other people.

I have no idea how she managed to do it.

She added: I have closed my Twitter account because of this.

I have nothing to worry about; I have never been involved in any form or racial tweeting.

She is following someone (on Twitter) that I follow, and follows me, so has picked up something from there.

A spokesman for the local Labour Party said: This so-called joke is really sick and I hope there is no truth whatsoever in the allegation that Councillor Macgregor laughed at this appalling racist abuse.

She is correct to take down her Twitter account, as clearly at best Councillor Macgregor is interacting with some very unsavoury friends online if they are making jokes like this.

Local people expect the highest standards from their elected representatives and that means representing people irrespective of their religion or race.

Dumfries and Galloway Police said they were aware of the matter and were making further inquiries.