Tories won’t discipline councillor who “liked” Miliband beheading comment

On August 2nd, Tory councillor Neil Cohen “liked” a vile Facebook status written by a friend that described the “very long and painful” beheading of Ed Miliband. The story was picked up by the Epping Forest Guardian, and Cohen’s “like” appears to have been removed. However, Cohen’s response to the status is still online. Here’s the beheading comment than Cohen liked (asterisks are ours, unfortunately):

“Ed Miliband, you’re a F***ing disgrace !!! instead of being proud of your people, you’ve turned on them no doubt to secure the huge Muslim vote our s**t hole of a country allows.. I’m hardly Jew of the year, but to condemn the actions of Israel and the IDF is horrendous.. i hope that when the jihadist vermin take over and start the slaughter, your beheading is a very long and painful one you utter, utter, utter C**T”

In response, Cohen said:

“Npw u know why im a conservative councilor. …lol”

When pulled up on this by the local press, Cohen replied:

“I condemn the comments unreservedly they were irresponsible, stupid and immature.

“Neil Wiseman is a joker and I don’t take these things seriously.”

“It was an oversight on my part. It was supposed to be a private conversation with a friend.”

Whilst Cohen wasn’t considering quitting, surely the Tory Party would discipline him? Except – inexplicably – they won’t be. A Tory spokesperson said:

“It is absolutely right that Cllr Neil Cohen has issued an unreserved apology for these offensive and unacceptable comments.”

Yet he’s still a member of the Tory Party, and still a councillor…