
The director of communications for Leave.EU has been accused of racism after saying a black Remain activist “looks like” Diane Abbott with a "more glowing complexion".
Several Twitter users reported Andy Wigmore, another self-professed “Bad Boy of Brexit”, for racial abuse over his “vile” comments about Femi Oluwole.
In response to Femi pointing out that No-Deal parties gained 44.5 percent of the vote in the EU elections compared to 54.5 percent for those backing a People’s Vote, Mr Wigmore wrote:
Have you eaten @HackneyAbbott Femi?
You sound like her, you have a grasp of numbers second only to her AND you even look like her, although you have much more of glowing complexion.
Mr Wigmore's comments came just days after alleged Brexit Party supporters were filmed shouting "go home" as Neena Gill, a British-Asian MEP, gave her acceptance speech.
The Remain activist struck back and was quick to point out that Leave.EU, UKIP and the Brexit Party are all part of one sorry chain of events.
I mean just a little bit of journalism would be nice. I found this in about 2 seconds. They're not even hiding the… https://t.co/OpKqUxRPe2— Femi (@Femi) 1559250722
Mr Wigmore is hoping to join close associate Nigel Farage in meeting Donald Trump during next week's state visit.
A man who basically just told me all black people look alike is about to go meet with his good pal who happens to b… https://t.co/3JFzPiCHoe— Femi (@Femi) 1559266005
Many were quick to call out the Leave campaigner's "revolting" statement, which has still not been deleted 19 hours later.
@andywigmore @HackneyAbbott @Femi_Sorry Careful, Andy Wigmore. You forgot to tuck your racism in. https://t.co/zZuPuohkkS— Liz Needham 💙🔶 (@Liz Needham 💙🔶) 1559282475
Solidarity with my friend @Femi_Sorry No one should have to put up with this revolting racist abuse. Wigmore, his m… https://t.co/42kv85zGrT— Anna Soubry (@Anna Soubry) 1559248758
@andywigmore @HackneyAbbott @Femi_Sorry https://t.co/5bGW1viiBo— katkin💙 (@katkin💙) 1559249317
The Brexit Party, UKIP and the Leave campaign have all been accused of stoking xenophobic discontent within the UK. While the movement's leaders have long denied these accusations, some saw Mr Wigmore's tweet as evidence of certain motivations within these campaigns.
@Femi_Sorry As shocking as this should be, I am not even surprised. This kind of racist rhetoric is becoming norma… https://t.co/F1om1vhOJL— Martin Travis (@Martin Travis) 1559278792
@Femi_Sorry They clearly think they can get away with this kind of vile racist abuse now. As you know, it's all cal… https://t.co/FpfdWx84oQ— Michael Gollop 🏴 🇪🇺 🐟 🎪🕯🕷 (@Michael Gollop 🏴 🇪🇺 🐟 🎪🕯🕷) 1559253142
@Femi_Sorry Hate how recent times have allowed people with buried disgusting views to voice them publicly without shame.— The Corm (@The Corm) 1559249157
Ms Abbott, who has suffered a disproportionate amount of abuse in her time as a black female MP, is yet to comment.
Mr Wigmore on Friday morning said his attack was "rude but not racist" and branded the accusations against him as "complete fake remoaner outrage as usual".
He posted a response from the social media site which said, "we could not identify any violations of the Twitter rules".
In the words of Will Self moments before staring down an angry Mark Francois:
[It’s] not that you have to be a racist or an anti-semite to vote for Brexit. It’s just that every racist and anti-semite in the country did.