Black Tory says racism behind deselection vote
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Tory party is facing an embarrassing row over plans by a Lancashire local association to deselect one of its few black parliamentary candidates, writes Patricia Wynn Davies.
Hugh Neil faces deselection as the candidate for the marginal Hyndburn seat next Tuesday amid allegations of racism by a minority of party members, and after claims of links with the girlfriend of a leading activist.
The management consultant has launched a scathing attack on the association in a bid to save his political career. The deselection move was triggered when he lost a vote of no confidence last month. He says the vote was "rigged".
Mr Neil, 32, told The Voice, the black newspaper: "Some of the people in the Conservative Party at Hyndburn make the Ku Klux Klan look liberal."
The association insists the reason for dropping him is discrepancies on his CV, including describing himself as a doctor of business administration when he had not taken his doctorate.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments