THE Conservative candidate for London mayor has prompted fury and disgust over a tweet about Sarah Everard.
Everard, 33, was last seen a week ago in Clapham, south London, on her way home from a friend's house. A serving Met police officer has been arrested on suspicion of murder following her disappearance.
Police have warned women in the local area not to go out alone, prompting a response from mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey.
His post has been branded “crass”, “shameless” and “deplorable”.
The Tory tweeted: “As a father and husband it breaks me to think that my wife and daughter have to live in fear in their own city.
“It doesn’t have to be this way.
“As Mayor, I‘ll ensure that we are working to deliver for the safety of women and girls in London.”
Since the tweet was posted, police announced human remains had been found in the search for Everard.
READ MORE: Police find human remains in search for Sarah Everard
Among those leading the condemnation of Bailey was the SNP’s Gavin Newlands.
He replied: “I've seen some pretty low political campaigning in my time, but this is right down there with the very worst.
“Just horrible. Show some bloody respect.”
I've seen some pretty low political campaigning in my time, but this is right down there with the very worst.
— Gavin Newlands MP 🎗 (@GavNewlandsSNP) March 10, 2021
Just horrible. Show some bloody respect. https://t.co/VjuOhDjPSR
Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan also expressed outrage.
“The Conservative candidate for London Mayor is politicising an active investigation into the disappearance of a young woman,” she wrote.
“Every thought and effort needs to be in finding Sarah and supporting her family at this very difficult time.”
A score of social media user also took aim at Bailey.
One posted: “Absolutely shameless to be politicking this. Really truly deplorable.”
Another added: “This is unbelievably crass”.
A separate comment read: “This is just appalling.”
READ MORE: Sarah Everard missing: Police officer arrested on suspicion of murder
Police investigating Everard’s disappearance serached locations in London and Kent, including a property in Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford.
The arrested officer, who was initially held on suspicion of kidnap, is also being questioned about a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
A woman, in her 30s, is also in custody after being arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, said: “Like so many Londoners across our city, my heart goes out to the family and friends of Sarah Everard, who are so desperately worried about her."
Like so many Londoners across our city, my heart goes out to the family and friends of Sarah Everard, who are so desperately worried about her. I'm in constant contact with the Met Police Commissioner & officers are doing absolutely everything they can. pic.twitter.com/AxnwRXwf18
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) March 10, 2021
LibDem mayoral candidate Luisa Porritt added: “I find it utterly grotesque that @ShaunBaileyUK is politicising the disappearance of a young woman.
“Her disappearance has nothing to do with his campaign and he should apologise immediately.
“My thoughts are with Sarah Everard and her loved ones today.”
Bailey has previously been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service over claims he “repeatedly attempted to mislead” voters with campaign leaflets.
He used “City Hall” branded paper to warn Londoners of an alleged “21.2%” council tax increase.
Lawyers acting on behalf of Labour, in their submission to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), called the leaflets a “fraudulent device”, as described by the 1983 Representation of the People Act.
The London mayoral election is due to take place on May 6, having been postponed by 12 months due to the coronavirus outbreak in the UK.
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