A Conservative General Election candidate in Leeds West has defended the Labour MP he ran against earlier this month.
Mark Dormer was the Tory candidate in Leeds West and campaigned in Kirkstall, Bramley, Farnley, Wortley and Armley.
But he was unable to oust sitting Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who held onto her seat with a reduced majority of almost 11,000.
A Twitter spat saw two accounts accusing Ms Reeves of being “the real problem” and saying that she does “not have the interests of their constituents at heart”.
But Mr Dormer issued a defence of his former opponent.
I was the @Conservatives candidate for Leeds West, I spent five weeks knocking on doors and was repeated told how much @RachelReevesMP did for the area.
— Mark Dormer (@MarkCDormer) December 23, 2019
Your views are inaccurate and ignorant and your abuse and vile anti-semitism has no place in politics or society as a whole.
He said:
“I was the Conservatives candidate for Leeds West, I spent five weeks knocking on doors and was repeated [sic] told how much Rachel Reeves did for the area.
“Your views are inaccurate and ignorant and your abuse and vile anti-semitism has no place in politics or society as a whole.”
His message has been retweeted thousands of times since.
Ms Reeves Tweeted her thanks to Mr Dormer a short time later.
I was the @Conservatives candidate for Leeds West, I spent five weeks knocking on doors and was repeated told how much @RachelReevesMP did for the area.
— Mark Dormer (@MarkCDormer) December 23, 2019
Your views are inaccurate and ignorant and your abuse and vile anti-semitism has no place in politics or society as a whole.
“Got to say, this means a lot,” she said. “When the Tory candidate who challenges you for your seat recognises the work you do locally. Thank you @MarkCDormer. More of this in politics in 2020 would be a good thing! #moreincommon#leedswest.”