Anti-northern jibe heads Tories’ way

The Tories were last night accused of being anti-northern after one of their rising stars quit saying she was bullied because of her accent and working class roots.

A leaked e-mail revealed director of Conservative Future Adele Douglas (19) said she was bullied because of her Mancunian accent.

She was also “laughed at” for having been to a state school and generally abused for being northern. She also claims a Tory candidate called her racist names while she was in a relationship with an Asian man.

Her e-mail said: “I encountered what I would describe as institutional prejudice. I was constantly referred to as ‘the northern one’”.

She said someone she had never met asked her a question and when she replied they responded with “oh you’re northern” and walked off.

Miss Douglas was also asked how she “coped” with having parents who were “very working class”.

She said: “I see myself as more than an accent, it is a shame they didn’t.”

The e-mail is an embarrassment for the Party who have been trying to move away from the image of being all privately educated from the Home Counties. Labour’s deputy leader and equality champion Harriet Harman said: “It’s clear the Tory Party hasn’t changed.

“This revelation proves they are still mired in the worst snobbery of the last century.

“Sneering at the North and state schools shows it is just the same old Tories.”

A Conservative party spokesman said: “This is a completely inaccurate description of David Cameron’s Conservatives.”

The e-mail follows the resignation of the founder of the Conservative lesbian and gay group Anastasia Beaumont-Bott (20) who quit after Shadow Home secretary Chris Grayling said B&B owners should be able to turn away gay couples.

Catch up the with candidates at www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/elections/