TORY staff and activists are running a network of Facebook pages which are riddled with Islamophobic attacks on London mayor Sadiq Khan, an investigation has discovered.
A total of 36 closed groups have been identified by Greenpeace’s investigative unit Unearthed that appear to be separate grassroots movements against the expansion of ultra-low emission zone schemes to reduce air pollution.
These groups – which have a combined membership of 38,000 with one for almost every London borough – appear to have been a forum for racist attacks on Khan with members calling him a “terrorist sympathiser” and a “khaki punt”, with some saying they would pay to get him “popped”.
Researchers from Unearthed joined six of the bigger groups and found dozens of racist posts and virulent abuse of Khan, including users saying they would like to see him killed.
Other posts have been found to promote white supremacist slogans and have encouraged the destruction of Ulez enforcement cameras.
Greenpeace says the groups are also a "breeding ground for dangerous conspiracy theories".
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Ami McCarthy, political campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “These groups are an absolute cesspit of vile racism and hate speech, as well as a breeding ground for dangerous conspiracy theories.
“That they’re being managed by Conservative operatives speaks volumes about the direction in which the party has gone, and just how toxic these anti-Ulez campaigns have become. The party should launch a full investigation into this whole shameful scandal and everyone involved.”
The groups do not say they were set up by the Conservatives as part of a coordinated political campaign but senior Tories have made posts in some of the groups including Susan Hall, a London mayoral candidate.
Meanwhile, Rachel Cromie, an administrator of all 36 groups, is a Tory councillor in Sussex.
Another Conservative party employee, who has been one of its digital campaign managers since February this year, is an administrator of 27 groups. Others include councillors, party officials and a local mayor.
Seven Conservative MPs, including Bob Neill and Steve Tuckwell, are also members of groups in the network.
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Neill said the posts were “completely inappropriate” and he did not tolerate or condone them.
Tory activists have also been found posting in the groups without declaring their political affiliation by The Observer.
The findings are the latest controversy to embroil the Tories regarding Khan, after former deputy chairman Lee Anderson was suspended two months ago after claiming “Islamists” were controlling the London mayor.
The Conservatives have said they would review their “processes and policies” regarding Facebook groups in light of the findings.
There is no suggestion the racist posts or those encouraging vandalism were made, or engaged with, by Conservative politicians or staff.
The groups – which have names like “Hillingdon say no to Ulez expansion” - were mostly set up in early 2023 before the Uxbridge by-election, but are now being used to promote Hall’s campaign and attack Khan.
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