Tories defend Shaun Bailey after mayoral candidate accused of ‘politicising’ Sarah Everard case

The Conservatives’ London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey can “absolutely” still run for office despite a controversial tweet relating to the ongoing Sarah Everard case, a government minister has said.

But Downing Street declined to offer Boris Johnson’s endorsement for the tweet, in which the Tory candidate appeared to apportion some blame for the crime to Labour’s mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Mr Bailey was accused of an “utterly grotesque” attempt to politicise her disappearance after he tweeted that “it doesn’t have to be this way” and vowed to “deliver for the safety of women” if he wins.

Human remains have been found in the search for Ms Everard, whose disappearance in south London a week ago has sparked a huge police hunt and the arrest of a police officer on suspicion of murder.

Business minister Paul Scully said people should not be “distracted” from the serious crime, following questions that Mr Bailey had tried to use the case as “political capital”.

Read more: Everything we know so far about Sarah Everard’s disappearance

“The first thing people want to be is safe in their homes and Shaun has been doing a lot of work around (that),” the minister told Sky News. “But we shouldn’t be distracted from the fact that there is a serious crime that’s gone on here.”

But Downing Street declined to offer Mr Johnson’s endorsement for the Tory mayoral candidate’s approach.

Asked repeatedly whether the prime minister backed Mr Bailey’s actions, the PM’s press secretary Allegra Stratton told reporters: “This is a conversation to have with Shaun Bailey. You’ve seen the prime minister’s approach today, and you’ve seen the home secretary’s approach today, and today we in government, like all of you, our thoughts are with the family of Sarah.”

Challenged over whether the PM was refusing to stand by his candidate, Ms Stratton replied: “Today, we believe, is a day to give sympathy to the family of Sarah in an incredibly difficult and distressing time for them.”

She pointed reporters to a tweet in which Mr Johnson said: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation. Like the whole country my thoughts are with her family and friends. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime.”

Mr Scully also claimed that the government was “absolutely” doing enough to keep women safe and that it was addressing problems of domestic violence.

Mr Bailey’s Liberal Democrat rival Luisa Porritt said the Tory candidate’s comments – made following the arrest of an officer but before police said he was being held on suspicion of murder – were “utterly grotesque”.

“Her disappearance has nothing to do with his campaign and he should apologise immediately,” said Ms Porritt. “My thoughts are with Sarah Everard and her loved ones today.”

Catherine West, Labour MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said: “This is really not the time for cheap, political point scoring. All our thoughts should be with Sarah, her family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time.”

In a statement, Mr Khan said: “All women and girls should be able to feel safe on the streets of London at all times, and I know how shocked and worried Londoners are by Sarah’s disappearance and developments in the case.”

Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said the discovery of human remains was made on Wednesday in an area of woodland detectives had been searching in Ashford, Kent.

Wayne Couzens, a serving officer, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure. He was previously detained on Tuesday on suspicion of kidnap.