A young Labour activist who introduced Jeremy Corbyn at his local election launch in Newark last month has resigned over a series of racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic tweets.
Undergraduate Bethany Barker stepped down as general secretary of Nottingham Labour Students on Tuesday after it emerged she had posted a number of offensive messages on social media between 2012 and 2014.
In a tweet sent in 2013, Barker said she was “supporting the n***** race” by cooking chicken and rice, while she called someone a “f*****” and referred to a “Jew cap” in other messages.
She wrote in another tweet: “I hate BBC one, fucking c***s black fucking bitch I hate everyone #mayday”.
In a statement on her Facebook page, Barker said she was “appalled and ashamed” of her comments and extended her “sincerest apologies to anyone that I have offended”.
The 19-year-old wrote: “These views are clearly not in line with what I believe today and do not reflect my character.
“I have grown up, developed and matured a lot since I was 14 years-old to the point where, looking back, I find it hard to recognise that person as myself.
“I am proud of how far I have come since then and will do everything in my power to make amends for the mistakes that I have made.”
Barker, a history and politics student, added: “We live in an age where any ounce of scandal is seized upon and removed from its context.
“I only ask that you consider what I have said and do not cast me aside for the mistakes I made when I was a child.”
Nottingham Labour Students has condemned Barker’s tweets.
Jacob Collier, chair of the group, said in a statement: “Be assured that Nottingham Labour Students holds the welfare of its members and wider university community of paramount importance.”
He continued: “We reiterate that these comments are not reflective of Nottingham Labour Students members and we will do everything as a committee to ensure that our society is an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone regardless of their background, ability, age, ethnicity, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.”
The incident follows a series of anti-Semitism scandals within Labour.