Whilst some Labour activists have taken to Twitter to denounce UKIP as racists and extremists, the response from members and supporters of all parties has been largely united in condemning what has happened in Rotherham. Red Ed Miliband has expressed his disappointment and said that there should be an investigation but David Cameron has been less than forthcoming, leaving Michael Gove to issue the Tories' condemnation. Cameron was asked in a radio interview about his accusation in 2006 that UKIP are fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists and he appeared to backtrack on that slur but Downing Street later retracted his retraction, confirming that David Cameron still thinks UKIP members are fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists.
Meanwhile, a Labour councillor on Telford & Wrekin Council - another Labour-run council - took to Twitter to condemn what happened in Rotherham but at the same time said that UKIP members and supporters were "right wing xenophobes". When a local radio presenter took an interest he denied having said it and demanded an apology from UKIP Telford & Wrekin who had been seeking clarification on why he thought their members hated or were scared of foreigners.
The Labour leader of Rotherham MBC has told the media that there will be an urgent investigation into what has happened.
wonkotsane is an author at Bloggers4UKIP.
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