THE Conservative Party is investigating a complaint made by Bradford West parliamentary candidate Naz Shah that a local Tory candidate re-tweeted Islamophobic material.

Ms Shah has written to James Cleverley, Chairman of the Conservative Party, calling for action over the recent Twitter activity of Linden Kemkaran – the Conservative’s candidate for Bradford East.

This includes allegedly re-tweeting a post calling Islam a “nasty culture.”

The party has confirmed that Ms Shah’s complaint is being investigated.

And Mrs Kemkaran has addressed the controversy, saying she “didn’t and never would describe Islam or any other culture as ‘nasty.'”

She has since undone the retweets.

During a hustings at Bradford College last week Mrs Kemkaran claimed some parts of Bradford were "no go areas."

Ms Shah took to Twitter to criticise the use of the phrase after the hustings, which was when the Tweets in question were retweeted.

Ms Shah posted a copy of the letter she sent to James Cleverley on social media last night.

It reads: “I Tweeted out how disgusted I felt that your Bradford East candidate, Linden Kemkaran, described Bradford as having ‘crime infested streets’ and no go areas’ during a local hustings.

“I highlighted how the link to no go areas is a far right trope used to attack, demonise and other minority communities. I recognise that people can make mistakes for a number of reasons, including sometimes through ignorance.

“However, instead of Linden Kemkaran apologising for peddling such rhetoric, she decided it was apt to double down on this message.

“In response she retweeted a user – whose Twitter biography reads ‘No to that cult, Islam’ and a message that said: “Muslims always the victims, play race card, ‘Islamophobia’ what a crock, what a nasty culture.”

To peddle these far-right tropes especially by an individual standing for office is not only irresponsible but hugely dangerous for minority communities. The lives and experiences of any community is not something to play political football with, as it has real life consequences.

“Any individual that empowers such dangerous and hateful speech, standing for office must be suspended immediately and a full investigation on the issue should take place.”

A Conservative spokesperson said: “This matter is being investigated. Discrimination or abuse of any kind is wrong, and the Conservative party takes decisive action to deal with any incidents of hatred, abuse or intimidation.

“Our complaints process is rightly a confidential one but there are a wide range of sanctions to challenge and change behaviour, including conditions to undertake training, periods of suspension and expulsion, and these are applied on a case-by-case basis.”

In a Tweet responding to criticism over her retweets Mrs Kemkaran said: “Of course I don’t think Muslim culture is negative or “nasty” – quite the opposite in fact.

“When I interact with anyone I see the human being first, that matters way more than colour/religion/sexuality etc. I wish others would do the same.”

In another response she said: “Can I just make it absolutely clear that I didn’t and never would describe Islam or any other culture as 'nasty'. I’m the product of a multi-cultural/heritage background and a constant promoter of diversity and equality.”

In 2017 Ms Shah herself was herself criticised for Twitter activity.

She hit the headlines after retweeting a post from a spoof Owen Jones account – seemingly set up to parody liberal politicians including Labour activist Jones.

It said: “Those abused girls in Rotherham and elsewhere just need to shut their mouths. For the good of diversity.”

She undid the retweet and described it as a “genuine accident.”

Mrs Kemkaran has been contacted for a comment.