Southend Conservatives have a racism problem
I met Bayo Alaba at the Surfers against Sewage protest and he was an absolute gentleman. We may have been standing for different parties but he treated me, a disabled person with complete respect and I have nothing but respect for him in return. Standing for different parties makes no difference to that. We stood together on the beach against sewage in our community.
I don’t get angry about much, but the way the representatives of the local conservative party have spoken about him, been caught doing it and then cynically apologising is not acceptible in a civilised society. Coconut is a racist term. It is describing someone as black on the outside and white on the inside. I hate even having to type that. You can see the exchange below between Conservative Cllr Reece Smith and Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Gavin Haran. Just imagine what they say that hasn’t been captured in black and white.
Here he is getting a photo taken with Anna Firth and Ron Woodley at a commemoration of the D-Day landings. I wonder did they leave early after this.
At the same time, Bayo Alaba was parachuting into Normady to raise money for the British Legion. The contrast could not be more stark. And yet, Conservative Cllr Daniel Nelson posted on X on Saturday asking if Labour candidate for Southend East and Rochford, Bayo Alaba, was “still in France”. Implying he was on holiday while he was campaigning.
This all ties in with Rishi Sunak’s decision to leave the D-Day ceremonies early. It is a lack of respect for those who genuinely make sacrifices for our country and just use them for photo opportunities. Shame on you all.