Labour candidate sacked after 'offensive' anti-royal rant

A Labour election candidate who called the Queen a "parasite" and "vermin" was sacked, the party announced.

Would-be local councillor Peter White was axed by party bosses after being forced to apologise for an online rant about the monarch's diamond jubilee.

A Labour spokesman said last night: "Mr White appeared before a panel of the regional board of the London Labour Party who, after hearing the evidence, decided to remove him from the panel of candidates."

He had been due to fight for a seat on Havering Borough Council in London next year.

His comments were posted on the Facebook page of Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who is campaigning for the royal milestone to be marked with a public holiday.

Mr White posted: "What is the point of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of someone who is born into a position of privilege, she is a parasite and milks this country for everything she can."

He went on: "Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with a public holiday but lets (sic) have one that means something, rather than celebrating vermin."

Mr Rosindell welcomed the action and said he had received messages of outrage at Mr White from people across the globe - including many republicans.

"Frankly his actions have warranted the decision. I think it is fully understandable that Labour would want to disassociate themselves from him.

"These remarks were shameful and caused great offence to people across the world.

"There has been an enormous response. Even people that are republicans are disgusted at the kind of words he used.

"It is beyond the pale to say things like that whatever your views."

In other comments about the Queen on the MP's page, Mr White wrote: "She has more front than Margate asking for extra money from the civil list.

"Maybe she should sell a couple of her properties.

"Maybe if she wants Buckingham Palace to be maintained from public funds she should open it to the public."

He initially defended his comments, but then issued an apology in which he said: "The way I expressed myself was totally inappropriate. I regret what I said and apologise unreservedly."

Labour will now look for a new candidate for the South Hornchurch council ward next May.