Ukip Leadership Contender Raheem Kassam Sparks Outrage For History Of Controversial Twitter Posts

One MP branded him a 'scumbag'.
Raheem Kassam, an ex-advisor to Nigel Farage
Raheem Kassam, an ex-advisor to Nigel Farage

One of the candidates tipped to replace Nigel Farage as Ukip leader has sparked outrage for a history of controversial comments that have resurfaced in the wake of his nomination.

Raheem Kassam faced a backlash for the catalogue of tweets, including a now-deleted post that joked Nicola Sturgeon should have her legs taped shut to stop her “reproducing”, after the SNP leader tragically miscarried.

Politics.co.uk’s Adam Bienkov posted a screenshot of the quip, leading to a trawl of the social media profile of the man who says he wants to “make Ukip great again”.

Ukip leadership hopeful Raheem Kassam’s now-deleted tweet about Nicola Sturgeon. Lovely bloke. pic.twitter.com/3CQ7paKDBD

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) October 23, 2016

SNP MP Stewart McDonald picked up on the comment, describing Kassam as a “nasty piece of work” who was “probably perfect for the Ukip leadership”.

What a nasty piece of work @RaheemKassam really is. Probably perfect for the UKIP leadership. https://t.co/Ipj8ONECS5

— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) October 23, 2016

Kassam replied that he refused to be lectured by a “National Socialist party”.

Soz mate but I won't be lectured by a National Socialist party. Just sayin'... https://t.co/XuJJcFl3Pc

— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) October 23, 2016

Prompting McDonald to brand him a “scumbag” and call for an apology.

Your tweet - now deleted apparently - was about a woman who had a miscarriage. Stop being a scumbag and apologise. https://t.co/xbVRIDqAki

— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) October 23, 2016

Kassam retorted that the joke, originally published during one of the TV debates on EU membership weeks before the referendum, was made before he knew of the First Minister’s miscarriage.

I already apologised and never heard of the miscarriage anyway. Now you're just trying to points score off a tragedy. Disgusting man. https://t.co/LkzjpATGul

— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) October 23, 2016

The Huffington Post UK has contacted Kassam to ask him to provide details of the apology.

Hours earlier, Suzanne Evans, Ukip’s former interim leader and another candidate in the race triggered by Dianne James’ resignation, described her rival in the election as “far-right”.

In response, Kassam wrote her a letter asking for the pair to meet to show the various factions of Ukip could “be united once and for all”.

But the Metro newspaper’s deputy news editor Joel Taylor posted a screenshot of an old message from Kassam that seemed to show a contrasting effort.

The post responded to news Evans had had her Ukip membership suspended. Kassam had writeen: “Now fuck off for good.”

Today Raheem Kassam asked @SuzanneEvans1 to meet him to show how Ukip 'can be united once and for all'. A contrast to what he said in March pic.twitter.com/21MpVObjPb

— Joel Taylor (@JoelTaylorhack) October 23, 2016

Others pointed to more of Kassam’s tweets, including one that asked as a “genuine question” if former Labour minister Angela Eagle “was in the special needs class” at school.

For those blocked: he hasn't deleted either of them #MakeUKIPukippyAgain pic.twitter.com/lZtEGV87D7

— Rupert Myers (@RupertMyers) October 23, 2016

Pulled up on the post by one social media user, Kassam responded:

@Jimmy_mumbles Don't be silly. My policy platform today calls for increased spending for mental health sufferers

— Raheem Kassam (@RaheemKassam) October 23, 2016

Earlier in the day, he told LBC of his position in the Ukip leadership race: “I am now the front runner in this campaign and that is because I believe that we are making people excited about Ukip again.

“We’re making people feel that the party has relevance in a time of great existential crisis and there is a man who’s coming for the positive ideas for the party and I think we need to continue with that.”

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