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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

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Charity ditches ambassador after “bad taste” burka tweet

This news post is over 5 years old
 

Offensive tweet left charity with no option other than to terminate ambassador's role

Muscular Dystrophy UK has severed links with Christine Hamilton after she compared women in burkas to members of the Ku Klux Klan.

The charity said it opposed prejudice of all kinds and had terminated Hamilton’s role as charity ambassador.

Responding to the row over Boris Johnson's recent remarks in a newspaper article, she posted on Twitter: "If the #burka is acceptable then presumably this is too?" and attached a picture of KKK members.

The controversial broadcaster and wife of UKIP Welsh Assembly member Neil Hamilton created uproar on Twitter with her comments.

Muscular Dystophy UK, which Hamilton has represented since 2013, ended their relationship with the media personality on Saturday night.

A spokesman said: "We believe in a diverse and inclusive society, respect for all and we oppose all forms of prejudice and discrimination.”

Chief executive Robert Meadowcroft said that the decision to end her role "fully reflects the values of the charity".

The male cancer charity, Balls to Cancer, also asked Hamilton to stand down as an ambassador as it described her tweet as “inappropriate”, adding: “This tweet was on her personal account and in no way the opinions of Balls to Cancer.

“We would wholeheartedly like to thank her for her support and her work helping out charity into the public eye and helping save more lives.”