Top Brexit Party candidate condemned for past defence of IRA bombing

Father of schoolboy murdered in Warrington says voters will be 'absolutely disgusted'

The father of a schoolboy killed in an IRA bombing has condemned a Brexit Party candidate for "absolutely disgraceful" comments made in the days after the attack.

Claire Fox, who is standing for Nigel Farage's new outfit in the European elections, was previously a member of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP,) which defended the Warrington bombing on 20 March 1993.

The party's newsletter, published in April 1993, defended "the right of the Irish people to take whatever measures necessary in their struggle for freedom".

Ms Fox is a lead candidate for the new Brexit party in the North West of England, meaning she could represent Warrington, in Cheshire, if the party performs well at the ballot boxes.

Colin Parry, whose son Tim, 12, died following the bombing which left 56 people injured, said voters would be "absolutely disgusted" and urged Ms Fox to disavow her comments.

Mr Parry said: "What she said at that time is highly inappropriate.

"For somebody to come out with comments I believe she made, and being an apologist for the IRA, is absolutely disgraceful.

"If this woman would care to explain her comments back at that time to me and my wife, I would like her to do so.

"She should disavow these comments if that's her position and say, 'I was wrong, I was foolish'.

"I simply say I think voters in the constituency of the North West, which is a big area, really should be aware, as voters should be in general should be aware, of the political positions of candidates, even if they disavow them from a former life."

Asked how voters would view the remarks, Mr Parry added: "I would hope they would be absolutely disgusted by these comments."

Asked if Nigel Farage should drop Ms Fox as a candidate, Mr Parry said: "I wonder whether he knows? I wonder whether the Brexit Party know this about her? Maybe they don't think it's an important issue."

Mr Parry and Tim's mother, Wendy Parry, later set up the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, in memory of their son and 3-year-old Johnathan Ball, who was also killed in the attack.

A Brexit Party spokesman said Ms Fox does not deny she did hold those views in the past, but that she supported the Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland, and does not hold those views now.

He said: "It's a desperate attempt to cause trouble. That was 20 years ago and she is committed to democracy and peaceful solutions."

Warrington councillor Dan Price said Ms Fox was "totally unfit for office".

Mr Price, one of Change UK's candidates for the European elections, said: "Claire Fox should not be hiding away in London, she should come to Warrington and explain to the Parry family her views on the IRA atrocity that devastated our town.

"Nigel Farage has made a big mistake in making her his priority candidate for Warrington and he is treating us with contempt."

Ms Fox has been approached for comment.

Recent polls have indicated Mr Farage's new outfit could capitalise on anger among Tory voters over delays to Brexit.

An Opinium survey at the weekend put the party neck and neck with Labour on 28 per cent for next month’s elections, with Tory support collapsing to 14 per cent in the 23 May contest.