'Vile': Tory councillor apologises for Jeremy Corbyn Liverpool bomb attack tweet

16 November 2021, 18:08

A Tory councillor is facing a huge backlash over a doctored photo showing Jeremy Corbyn at the scene of the Liverpool bomb attack.

Paul Nickerson has apologised after the image was posted from his Twitter account on Monday evening.

The East Riding of Yorkshire councillor, who represents the Minster and Woodmansey ward, has also been suspended.

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The now deleted tweet superimposed an image of the former Labour leader holding a wreath onto a picture of the burning taxi after an explosive device was detonated outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital on Sunday.

It was posted alongside the caption: "Unsurprisingly".

It is thought to be a reference to a row in 2018 over Mr Corbyn’s attendance at a wreath-laying ceremony in Tunisia in 2014.

He was accused of honouring the perpetrators of the terror attack at the 1972 Olympic Games, however he insisted he was there to pay tribute to the victims of a 1985 Israeli air strike.

After the post was deleted, Mr Nickerson, wrote: "I would like to apologise for a political tweet sent from my account yesterday which has been upsetting for some people and I unreservedly apologise to all concerned."

He has been condemned by many Twitter users, including local MPs.

Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy wrote: "Using a horrific terrorist incident to have a go at a politician he doesn’t like is a new low."

Hull East MP Karl Turner said: "This is grotesque. Anybody would be utterly disgusted that any elected member of any political party would make light of a terror attack on mainland Britain on the very day that our Home Secretary Priti Patel has had to raise the threat level. It must be investigated immediately."

Activist Owen Jones called the tweet "completely vile", adding "where do you even start".

Police last night named the man who died in the taxi explosion, which has been declared a terror incident, as Emad Al Swealmeen.