MP Michael Fabricant apologises after sharing 'racist' Sadiq Khan tweet
Michael Fabricant has apologised after he shared a 'vile Islamophobic' tweet about Sadiq Khan.
The Tory MP for Lichfield posted a cartoon showing the London Mayor's head on an inflatable balloon, engaged in a sexual act with a pig.
Mr Fabricant said he 'stupidly tweeted it in a meeting without checking it properly'.
The image, which has now been deleted, showed a laughing President Trump in front of Parliament with a blimp of two pigs having sex in the background, with one pig showing the superimposed face of Mr Khan.
The caption read: “Breaking News: Trump defeats Sadiq Khan in balloon wars.”
Mr Khan, who is a Muslim, gave the go ahead for a controversial 20ft blimp of the US President as a crying baby wearing a nappy to fly near Parliament during Mr Trump’s visit to the UK.
Trump supporter Mr Fabricant shared the tweet, commenting: “Well, what can I say.”
He has since said: "I did not see the detail on my small iPhone.
"I am genuinely sorry if it caused anyone offence and I am disappointed in the person who sent it to me in the first place."
Labour MP Chuka Umunna tweeted: “Mike_Fabricant tweeted that vile, islamophobic image of @SadiqKhan - thought it was a spoof."
Birmingham Labour MP Jess Phillips said: "Jesus wept! This is utterly racist and so so offensive."
Former Conservative Party chairman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi also responded, describing Islamophobia in the Conservative Party as 'widespread'.
Labour MP Stephen Doughty said called for Mr Fabricant to be suspended for sharing 'this openly racist cartoon'.
