Karl McCartney | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Conservative Lincoln candidate in the upcoming general election, and former MP for Lincoln, Karl McCartney is facing calls by an anti racism and fascism group for his suspension after he was exposed for allegedly promoting far-right views on social media.
Campaign group ‘Hope Not Hate’ accused the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Lincoln of repeatedly retweeting the far-right content “over the course of a few months” and called for the party to suspend him.
Among social media ‘offences’, the group claimed that Karl McCartney defended the actions of the former leader of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson.
Tommy Robinson has been widely condemned as Islamophobic but ‘Hope Not Hate’ claims that Karl McCartney has shared his views.
One of the retweets allegedly included a so-called letter in which Tommy Robinson claimed his murder would spark a revolution:
“I’ve always said I’d sacrifice my life tomorrow if it would end the Islamic takeover of our beautiful land,” is part of the letter Karl McCartney reportedly shared.
A screenshot from ‘Hope Not Hate’ of Karl McCartney retweeting another far-right activist.
‘Hope Not Hate’ also alleged that Karl McCartney shared tweets from Katie Hopkins over the course of a few months, including one where she defended Tommy Robinson.
This tweet came from May 2018: “Tommy warned us about these rape gangs. You laughed and called him a racist. Tommy will die in prison at the hands of these gangs.
“You will laugh and say it served him right. Then you will remember YOU have a daughter. #TommyRobinson”
It was not entirely clear when Mr McCartney retweeted the posts.
Karl McCartney was screenshotted sharing the views of Paul Joseph Watson, another far-right activist who criticises Islam, feminism and left-wing politics.
The Lincolnite reached out to Karl McCartney but he was unavailable at the time of writing, instead, his communications team sent a statement:
Karl McCartney. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Mr McCartney said in a statement:
“I apologise unreservedly. In no way do I endorse the tweets or the accounts behind them. I accept retweeting them was ill-judged and could cause offence.
“This divisive figure has no place in our politics or public life.”
Nick Lowles, chief executive at ‘Hope Not Hate,’ said: “There’s no excuse for promoting far-right propaganda.
“Spreading the hateful views of a thug like Tommy Robinson or the vile comments of Katie Hopkins demonstrates that Karl McCartney isn’t a fit to be an MP.
“Karl McCartney’s weak apology can’t be the end of the matter. This wasn’t a one-off accident, but many retweets of far-right content over a sustained period.
“He’s failed to explain why he would have promoted these views in the first place.
“If the Conservative Party is serious about tackling Islamophobia and prejudice within its ranks it must suspend him as a candidate immediately.”
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The 32-year-old man and 30-year-old woman arrested in the murder probe of an 11-year-old boy in Lincoln have both been released on police bail, without any charges.
The man was arrested on suspicion of murder and the woman on suspicion of manslaughter after an incident at a house on Geneva Street on St Giles in Lincoln.
Police were called to the house at 10pm on Friday night, January 22.
The 11-year-old boy was found unwell at the scene and was taken to hospital for treatment.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
At the time Lincolnshire Police said the death was unexplained and it was treated as murder.
The man and the woman arrested at the weekend were released on police bail on Monday evening.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement on Monday night:
“Once again, we’d like to remind people that this is an active investigation and that an 11-year-old boy has sadly lost his life.
“Speculative comments are not only deeply upsetting to those involved but can potentially undermine our investigation.
“If you have any information that can help, call 101 or email [email protected] quoting incident 472 of January 22.”
There have been 259 new coronavirus cases and seven COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 213 new cases in Lincolnshire, 28 in North Lincolnshire and 18 in North East Lincolnshire.
Some six deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported four new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust on Monday.
National cases increased by 22,195 to 3,669,658 — the lowest daily rise in cases since December 15, while deaths rose by 592 to 98,531.
A mass rapid testing centre has opened on Croft Street off Monks Road in Lincoln for people with and without coronavirus symptoms after relocating from the LNER Stadium.
Some 2,298 people were tested, with 42 positive results at the site on Sincil Bank between January 11 to 24.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is giving out more than £23 million to 60 councils across England including £494,800 to Boston Borough Council and £397,204 to North Lincolnshire Council.
In national news, the government will tell teachers and parents when schools in England can reopen “as soon as we can”, the prime minister has said.
MPs have called on the government to set out a “route map” for reopening amid concerns for children’s education.
Men in low-skilled jobs or caring, leisure or other service roles had the highest rate of death from COVID-19 in England and Wales from March to December last year, according to new figures.
The Office for National Statistics said 7,961 deaths involving coronavirus in the working age population (those aged 20 to 64 years) were registered between March 9 and December 28, 2020.
Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer is self-isolating for the third time since the start of the pandemic after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
This morning I was notified that I must self isolate after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
I have no symptoms and will be working from home until next Monday.
Greater Lincolnshire has seen an average fall in its infection rate, with just a small increase in South Holland but a spike in Boston from 168.2 per 100,000 of the population on Friday to 205.2 on Monday.
National infection rates have also seen a large fall over the weekend from 472.9 on Friday to 420.7 on Monday.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to January 25 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 18 to Jan 25. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, January 25
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
46,422 cases (up 259)
32,441 in Lincolnshire (up 213)
7,154 in North Lincolnshire (up 28)
6,827 in North East Lincolnshire (up 18)
1,787 deaths (up seven)
1,279 from Lincolnshire (up six)
275 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
233 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,066 hospital deaths (up four)
653 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up four)
33 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
379 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
3,669,658 UK cases, 98,531 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
Ten people from Boston have been given fines for breaching COVID-19 regulations by driving dangerously in supermarket car parks.
Officers were called after three separate reports of dangerous driving in the car parks of Lidl and Tesco in Wyberton Fen, as well as on Marsh Lane Industrial Estate in Boston.
All three incidents took place and were reported to police between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, January 24, though it is unsure if they were connected at all.
When officers arrived, the drivers were seen doing donut manoeuvres and racing in the snow.
A total of 10 people were given £200 fines for breaking lockdown guidelines, but this will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, due to all being first time offenders.
As well as the COVID-19 fines, two of the vehicles were also seized as a result of being uninsured, with drivers reported.
A traffic offence report was also submitted after one driver was seen to be driving not just dangerously but out of control.
Inspector Fran Harrod of Lincolnshire Police said: “We would like to thank the public for bringing these incidents of dangerous driving to our attention.
“This is not only extremely dangerous to those taking part but to others in these areas.
“While we continue to engage and explain with the public, this was a blatant breach of the restrictions which will not be tolerated.”
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