No Allegiance to the Crown
A Labour Councillor who worked alongside Angela Rayner was suspended from the party after shockingly branding the King of England a 'Nonce' on social media and advising people not to swear their allegiance to him.
A post on the profile of David Beckett, a prominent Labour Councillor in Darlington, who was on the campaign trail with deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner and chair-woman Anneliese Dodds, said he would not give affirmation to a "Nonce".
"Are we seriously being asked to swear that we will 'pledge allegiance to his Majesty, [his] heirs and successors according to law'?" the tweet read "There isn't a chance in hell of me giving such an affirmation to a Nonce".
King Charles has never been accused of any sexual impropriety, so it is unclear as to why the Councillor chose to brand him a sex offender. A source said he was "swiftly" suspended from the party and that Labour "does not condone" his views. The tweet was in response to the news Britons will be invited to swear allegiance to King Charles during his Coronation on Saturday.
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen told The Independent the comments were "nasty".
"Sadly this type of behaviour and these types of statements are not uncommon when it comes to the Labour Party across Teesside." Mr Houchen said. "While Keir Starmer might be trying to convince the public that Labour has changed, the truth is its membership is as nasty and Corbynite as ever."
In a statement to the Northern Echo, the Darlington Labour group said it does not agree with the comments and confirmed his suspension from the party.
A spokesman said "Darlington Labour do not agree with or endorse the comments made by this individual in this case. We hold our councillors and candidates to a high standard and apologise unequivocally for the offence caused in this instance."
Beckett quickly deleted his Twitter account, and refused to make a formal statement. Beckett will remain on the ballot paper today as a Labour candidate, but if he wins, he will sit as an independent unless the party later decide to lift his suspension.