Sadiq Khan, Labour’s London mayoral candidate, has suspended one of his aides over a series of sexist, homophobic and offensive posts on social media.
Shueb Salar, a parliamentary assistant to the former minister, was removed after Mr Khan’s team admitted that there were “serious issues” with messages allegedly published by him on Twitter in 2012. It came as Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative contender, accused Mr Khan of giving oxygen to people who held “totally disgusting views”.
Among the messages posted was one that stated: “Currently hating on all you faggots who have finished uni”. Several others contained homophobic language. Other posts attacked women. One said: “f*** all you hoes”. Another said that the best way to treat a lady was to “buy her a nice iron and extend the kitchen for her”. The messages were posted before Mr Salar started working in Mr Khan’s office in November 2014.
In an interview with The Times before Mr Salah’s alleged messages were exposed, Mr Goldsmith also attacked Mr Khan’s judgment. The Conservative candidate claimed that his Labour rival had “zero principles” and described him as “the least authentic person I’ve ever come across in politics”.