Gosport Conservative election campaigner '˜spoken to' over '˜bulldoze mosques'

Gary Walker, 50, who stood for election to Gosport Borough Council last year, had the image shared on his Facebook feed last month.

The post said: ‘Every time a jihadist commits an act of terrorism in a Western country, all Western countries should bulldoze one mosque.’

It adds: ‘Share if you agree.’

The News has seen the post shared on Mr Walker’s account.

Mr Walker says on Facebook he is vice-chair at Heathfield Special School and St Francis Special School.

The News has contacted Mr Walker, but has not had a response from him.

Gosport Conservative Association has moved to distance itself from the incident.

Association chairman George McAleese said: ‘It’s not on, it’s just not on.

‘I’ll be having a quiet word. I don’t support that view at all.’

Asked if a ‘quiet word’ was enough, Mr McAleese added: ‘He feels he’s let the association down.

‘He works hard for us and he feels he’s let us down.’

Mr Walker was a parent volunteer for Portsmouth City Council‘s transport appeal and a volunteer befriender for Kids Face 2 Face.

In 2016 Mr Walker won 312 votes in the borough council election, coming second to Lib Dem Robert Hylands, who won 639.

He was handed a Guiding Light Award at the The Young Epilepsy Awards in 2015 for creating a website giving advice about the condition, which has 25,000 hits a year.

Councillor Graham Burgess, deputy leader of Gosport Borough Council, said: ‘Everyone has their own views. We as the association don’t associate ourselves with that.

‘That’s the danger on Facebook, clicking on something – people should be aware.

‘We at the association don’t tolerate it and George will have words with Gary, it’s not something we expect from members.

‘People are expressing their views.

‘I’d urge all members and users or Facebook not to share it or forward it.’