Labour’s candidate in Stoke by-election apologises for series of abusive tweets aimed at women
Gareth Snell described Loose Women panellists as ‘squabbling sour-faced ladies’ and called Janet Street-Porter ‘polished turd’
LABOUR’S candidate in the Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election has apologised for posting a series of abusive tweets aimed at women.
Gareth Snell described panellists on ITV's Loose Women as "squabbling sour-faced ladies" and called presenter Janet Street-Porter a "polished turd".
He also had a pop at a "speccy blonde girl" on BBC's The Apprentice who should "p*** off", in comments highlighted by the Guido Fawkes website.
Ukip, whose leader Paul Nuttall is expected to mount a strong challenge in the contest, said the comments were "distasteful" and showed a lack of maturity.
In a statement, Mr Snell expressed regret for the remarks which he said had been made a number of years previously.
"I regret these tweets. They were from years ago when I was tweeting along with TV programmes but nevertheless, I shouldn't have tweeted those comments and I apologise for the offence they have caused," he said.
A former leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council, Mr Snell has previously caused controversy with online comments describing party leader Jeremy Corbyn as an "IRA supporting friend of Hamas" and denouncing Brexit as a "massive pile of s***".
A Ukip spokesman said: "The Labour candidate is in danger of coming across as a foul-mouthed young man with a lot of growing up still to do.
"The people of Stoke-on-Trent Central clearly deserve much better than this to represent them in the House of Commons.
"They deserve a seasoned, grown-up political figure who will treat them with respect and set out their concerns in more eloquent and thoughtful fashion."
It came after Ukip’s treasurer was criticised for re-tweeting a slogan mired in racist controversy.
John Bickley posted a cartoon with the words "If you want a jihadi for a neighbour - vote Labour" to his 4,400 followers.
But Mr Nuttall has backed his immigration spokesman, who has since deleted the tweet and has, according to the Ukip leader, apologised.
He said Mr Bickley had been "mortified", after critics pointed out the slogan was similar to one used in the infamous Smethwick by-election, which used a racist term.
Mr Nuttall said: "He's not a politics anorak, John, and I don't think he understood the history of that slogan which goes back to the 1960s.
"That was pointed out to him and as soon as it was, he was mortified by it and he took it down and he's apologised."