10 March 2016

South Ayrshire Tory councillor in Tweet storm as she backs call to ban the burka

A top councillor has been caught up in a Twitter storm – after she backed calls to ban the burka.

Depute provost Mary Kilpatrick has been forced to say sorry for an online slur against the traditional Muslim dress.

The Conservative member for Ayr East ‘retweeted’ posts from an account carrying the hashtag “BanTheBurka”.

And she relayed another message which attacked fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Kilpatrick, a member of South Ayrshire Council for 17 years, has been rebuked by Tory bosses in Edinburgh following the controversial posts.

One of her retweets from the @BanningTheBurka account – which has more than 21,000 followers – read: “Absolutely ridiculous that exams are being pushed back due to Ramadan. Children should not be fasting in the first place!” [Daily Record] Read more