SCOTTISH Tories insist they have rejected a bid by David Coburn to join their party – despite the former Ukip MEP claiming to be a “card carrying member”.
Coburn claimed he had been issued with a membership card by the party “several weeks ago”.
But Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw made clear he could not back an application from the controversial former MEP, stating that some of his previous comments were “incompatible with membership”.
The two men clashed in a social media spat over the weekend. It came after Coburn told the BBC on Saturday that he had joined the Tories to help Boris Johnson “save the Union”.
But Carlaw took to Twitter yesterday to say that Coburn’s past comments were “incompatible” with being a member of the Tories.
He wrote: “I understand David Coburn has applied to join the Scottish Conservatives. As leader I have to make it clear that past public comments by him are incompatible with membership & I cannot and will not support his application.”
It’s understood the past comments that Carlaw was referring to in particular was Coburn’s calling Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf “Abu Hamza”.
At the time, Coburn said the remark was a “joke”.
Yesterday. Yousaf said that if Coburn was allowed to join the Tories, it would confirm that Islamophobia was “systemic” in the party.
After Carlaw tweeted his lack of support, Coburn took to social media to say that his application had already been accepted. “I am now a card carrying member with membership number etc,” he said.
However, Carlaw said that wasn’t enough: “As part of the online process to join the party, anywhere in the UK, it clearly states that membership is subject to confirmation.
“Mr Coburn’s membership has been rejected and any sum paid by him as part of that online process, will be refunded.”
Coburn added: “I also sent @ScotTories my political CV and covering letter so when i made my successful membership application I wanted to ensure there could be no ambiguity.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel