Bath’s Conservative Association criticised by residents for ‘aggressive’ Twitter posts

The Bath Conservative Association has been criticised by local residents for what have been labelled ‘aggressive’ and ‘shameful’ tweets on the social media site Twitter.

The social media account @BathCA, representing the Bath Conservative Association, has posted a number of tweets that local residents have objected to, on topics including the city’s protest groups, the Bath Central Library and most recently, and bizarrely, the relocation of Bath’s Sexual Health Clinic.

The content of the tweets led Widcombe resident Gill Kirk, who has worked in national politics for 25 years, to write an open letter to the Chairman of the Conservative Party, Sir Patrick McLoughlin.

In her letter, she says: “How can people in Bath elect an MP who allows anyone who speaks up for their community to be insulted as “a rag tag”, “these people”, “shadowy” and as though they’re irrelevant, stupid, exaggeration or intimidating when they say this is ill-mannered?”

I believe a Conservative Party member has brought the Conservatives into disrepute in the Bath marginal, on social media.

She continues: “This has harmed the Conservative campaign in this highly marginal seat as well as the Party’s long-term reputation with supporters and non-supporters alike.

“As recent, unmissable protests here show, Bath unites across party lines. We are a strong community, who will speak out and speak up.”

One of the Twitter posts which most riled local residents was the request by the user of the @BathCA account, who has remained anonymous despite calls for them to reveal who they are, to identify the ‘shadowy figures’ behind recent protests across the city.

Who are shadowy figures behind these direct-action protesters bringing chaos to our streets? @landatthebottom any idea? pic.twitter.com/Fm19tcZCTB

— Bath Local Conservatives (@BathCA) May 15, 2017

What shadows? We see lots of kids, librarians, teachers & parents who use the library Ben wants to close. You do know 50% voters use it?

— Save Bath Libraries (@SaveBathLibrary) May 15, 2017

https://twitter.com/LukeJohnEmmett/status/864154988427309056

When Prime Minister Theresa May came to Bath on Wednesday, a large protest lined the streets outside of the manufacturer she was visiting.

https://twitter.com/LukeJohnEmmett/status/869924523302420480

Says man whose courageous day job is driving around – in a bus. But good to see you support mob rule, Luke. #insurrectionnow https://t.co/Oxnyi3LPU5

— Bath Local Conservatives (@BathCA) May 31, 2017

This tweet, which was in response to the post by local fundraiser and arts campaigner Luke Emmett, caused a stir with some feeling it showed ‘a lack of respect for bus drivers’ and that it implied ‘driving a bus does not qualify someone to hold opinions’. Luke does not drive the referred to Theatre Bath bus, as he doesn’t hold the relevant driving qualification, and a team of volunteers are used.

https://twitter.com/joerayment91/status/869934929160933377

The Bath Echo itself has been the subject of a controversial tweet, following our story earlier this week on the relocation of the Bath Sexual Health Clinic to the Riverside Health Centre.

How long before there's a campaign against the sexual health clinic "closing"…?

— Bath Local Conservatives (@BathCA) May 30, 2017

Well, Bath is a lively place…it might be a close call ?

— Bath Local Conservatives (@BathCA) May 30, 2017

A local resident said of these comments from the @BathCA Twitter account: “I find this attempt at humour puerile and a dig at a former conservative voter (me) who loves Bath Central Library. Shame”

Luke Emmett, who has been the subject of content posted on the Conservative Association’s Twitter account, said: “The posts have had a very nasty undertone, particularly in attacks against Bath residents and that’s who they are calling “rag-tag” protestors and “Shadow Figures” – normal residents of Bath – Mums, Dad’s, Children, Teachers, Grandparents, who have come together to voice their utter dismay at what the Conservative Council are doing to services and their communities.

“Residents have every right to speak out against things that they think are detrimental to their communities and should be able to do so without being personally victimised by an anonymously run account which is owned and run by a parliamentary party. It’s no different than trolling people.

“All of the campaigners want to engage with politics and our council and MPs – but childish name calling makes it very hard to openly discuss and engage with them.”

Gill Kirk received ‘an ungracious and childish’ apology after questioning some of the content posted by the @BathCA account.

Gill, if you have feel insulted (although we don't quite see why you would…) then we apologise, of course.

— Bath Local Conservatives (@BathCA) May 15, 2017

At the time of publishing, a request by the Bath Echo to the Bath Conservative Association for a comment regarding the social media posts and the open letter by Gill Kirk remains unanswered.