Tory mayoral candidate Hall joins another anti-Ulez Facebook group hosting Islamophobia and threats

TRIGGER WARNING: This story includes offensive language containing profanity, violence and racism.

Tory mayoral candidate Susan Hall has declined to leave any of the anti-Ulez Facebook groups revealed by Unearthed this weekend to be riddled with Islamophobia and celebrations of criminal damage – and has instead joined another one.

On Saturday (27 April), Unearthed reported that Hall was a member of at least six private Facebook groups presented as local grassroots campaigns against London’s clean air policies, but which were in fact run by Conservative Party operatives. 

Reporters who joined groups in this 36-strong network found dozens of Islamophobic and racist posts, including commenters calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan a ‘terrorist sympathiser’ and a ‘khaki punt’, and saying they would pay to have him ‘popped’.  

When the story broke, some senior Tory MPs who had been members of groups in the network indicated they had been unaware of the “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” posts, but condemned them and left the groups. 

However, Hall, the Conservative Party’s candidate for London Mayor, has declined to give any comment on the revelations – either to Unearthed or other media. Opposition to London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) is a central plank of her bid to unseat Khan in this week’s May 2 mayoral election. 

When Unearthed reporters checked yesterday morning (30 April) Hall’s official Facebook account was still a member of all the groups in which they had previously found her.

However, they also found that her account had become a member of another group in the network – called Bexley say no to ULEZ expansion – in the early hours of yesterday morning. 

This move came days after Unearthed had reported that the Bexley group also contained Islamophobic comments, celebrations of vandalism against Ulez-enforcement equipment, and suggestions that Khan should be assassinated.

Unearthed reached out to Hall, but she again declined to comment. 

Sadiq Khan told Unearthed: “This latest revelation is absolutely jaw dropping. This could have a direct impact on not just my safety but the safety of my family and staff.”

He added that “no one should be inciting violence”, and it was “staggering” for the Tory candidate to “apparently be endorsing racism and incitement to violence”.

There is no suggestion that Hall has posted, seen, or engaged with unacceptable content on the groups she is a member of. 

‘Dark forces’

The Bexley group which Hall’s account joined yesterday targets a southeastern borough of outer London, and has close to 2,900 members. 

On Saturday, Unearthed reported that posts in the group included a Youtube video alleging that “Islamists” were “taking over Britain” and threatening language directed at Khan.

“Seriously can’t believe khan [sic] hasn’t been taken out yet,” wrote one commenter. “[If] dark forces can take out Princess Diana I’m sure they can take out this money grabbing little parasite.”

Elsewhere, we reported that someone on the group had shared a photo of an enforcement van with its tyres slashed, noting “two flat tyres and sprayed camera”. Another commenter had responded: “Well done to whoever that was”.

Comments that Unearthed has found in the Bexley group but not previously reported include one member writing that if Khan is re-elected this week he “will see a big upsurge in public feelings and possibly major riots, mosques burnt down and innocent Muslims unable to walk the streets.” 

There is no suggestion that Hall could have been aware of this comment prior to joining the group.

Prior to Tuesday, the groups in the network which Unearthed had confirmed Hall’s account was a member of included Hillingdon, Sutton, Croydon, Barking and Dagenham, Bromley and Harrow. Unearthed has analysed posts in all of these groups apart from Sutton and Harrow.

On Monday, LBC reported that the Labour party had referred the network of Conservative-run anti-Ulez Facebook groups to the police. The talk radio station’s story was based on an interview with Khan, who told them: “My understanding is that the Labour Party has reported some of the groups to the police. The Labour Party has written also to the Conservative Party and also director of public prosecution.”

Unearthed has reached out to the Metropolitan Police for comment.

Also on Monday, Brent MP Dawn Butler raised the finding of Unearthed’s investigation in parliament, calling on the deputy speaker to ensure that they were investigated by the government.

Butler also wrote letters about the investigation to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley and to Richard Holden, chairman of the Conservative party. 

Butler called on Holden to “issue an immediate statement outlining what co-ordination has taken place with Ms Hall’s mayoral campaign team regarding the organisation of these Facebook groups”. 

She added that with just days to go before the election, “voters in London have a right to know the full extent of Ms Hall’s involvement” in this “utterly shameful” operation. 

She asked Rowley to investigate “whether the publication and promotion of this content constitutes a criminal offence or offences.”

Unearthed did not approach Conservative campaign headquarters for comment yesterday, but on Saturday a Conservative Party spokesperson said the party “unequivocally condemns all discriminatory language, and never encourages nor condones vandalism or criminal activity.”

He added: “The Conservative Party is reviewing its processes and policies regarding Facebook groups.”