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A Conservative candidate in next week's council elections resigned from the party today after the Evening Standard discovered his Facebook site refers to women as "sluts".
It is alleged by Labour Party activists that Payam Tamiz, who is standing for Thanet council, was until recently listed as a member of a Facebook group with the name: "Girls in THANET ... you are all slags, hoes, brasses and bheads." Mr Tamiz denies being a member of the Facebook group.
The University of Kent graduate, 21, who is studying to be a solicitor, was the official Conservative candidate for Salmestone ward and was photographed on the campaign trail with party chairman Baroness Warsi only last week.
However, an investigation by this newspaper found that his personal web pages contained derogatory references to women.
One comment still published on his site reads: "Girls who comment under facebook pics boasting to their slutty friends about guys they've f***** and had one-night stands with are as low as they come!"
A party spokesman said: "He has resigned. We consider the language he used outrageous and unacceptable."
Party sources made clear Mr Tamiz would have been expelled had he not resigned.
Mr Tamiz said: "I understand that my Facebook remarks were inappropriate and I unreservedly apologise for the offence they have caused. However, I feel it is important to put the remarks into context. They were made long before I was a member of the Conservative Party and long before I entered the political arena.
"They were made at a time of personal trouble and difficulty and I never intended for them to be interpreted as an unfair generalisation for the women of Thanet. I am deeply saddened that they have been taken out of context and misconstrued. I have resigned from the Conservative Party in the hope that this affair, which is being exploited and distorted by the opposition, does not damage the Party's electoral success come 5th May."
Reader views (36)
No, firstly I'm a girl and felt that a female perspective on this story was necessary and secondly I was driven to put my comment up after having seen how blatantly clear it was that on the same day that David Cameron makes a controversial remark, then this story which was from the past and moreover probably prior to the candidate ever joining the Tory party, is suddenly found and used to make an example of in terms of a convenient political show which is obviously timely and draws attention away from other inconvenient issues at hand. I do not feel that is fair and far from it only adds to the shame of this political ploy. I hope that Payam is still able to continue his campaign and that people are able to see beyond below the belt political tactics.
- Michelle8, Margate, 29/04/2011 21:13
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But everyone makes fun of the typical Essex girl I thought. It is national joke.
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 28/04/2011 13:05
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Michelle8, Margate - sure you're not really Payam of Thanet by any chance?
- Warren, Edmonton, 28/04/2011 11:13
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Persian/Iranian origin? Rubbish - judging by his name, he is definitely Turkish. And his mysogynistic comments undoubtedly sum up the attitude of Turkish men about women.
- Mark, Walthamstow, 28/04/2011 11:08
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This and the "calm down dear" incident show that the Tory mask is slipping.
- Theodore Tugboat, The Peoples Republic of Plumstead, London, SE18, 28/04/2011 10:30
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This candidate has clearly been made a political scapegoat. Shame on those individuals who have used this person to further their own political ventures. This candidate has been engaged in numerous positive projects for this area, but that has not been highlighted and unfortunately has only let those few politicians free to spin this story in the way they want. I am saddened by this news as are many other people in this community.
- Michelle8., Margate, 27/04/2011 22:22
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This candidate has obviously been made a scapegoate of in the domain of politics. It is truly a shame as a candidate, Payam had engaged in numerous positive projects. Due to a personal and conceited campaign, being picked on and politically used this candidate who despite his age had actually, withstanding this comment, tried to make a difference. It is a terrible thing to have happened to someone who was just starting to try to do positive things in politics in this area. I am saddened by this, as are a lots of other people in this community. Shame on those political members who have tried to put a slur on someone to further their own political ventures.
- Michelle8., Margate, 27/04/2011 22:18
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He was also Chair of University of Westminster Conservative Future. He works as a paralegal for his brother's property development company - their mother sued his brother for failing to pay her for a property she sold to him. What delightful people the Tory Party attracts.
- Helen, West London, 27/04/2011 21:35
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Payam Tamiz or whatever sounds like a right old chauvinistic pig to me. good riddance I say.
All those on here thinking he's right and / or funny, it's all of your daughters and sisters he's commenting on.
Guys like him don't like any sort of female liberation or freedom of choice, such as simply living with your partner before marriage.
Calling all women he has never met from a certain place whores and sluts is not acceptable, including Colin from Colindale's daughter.
- Juma, at home, today, at last, 27/04/2011 21:22
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I thinks 'slugs' is more accurate...slags with an 'uuuuuuuu' factor
- tracey, london, uk, 27/04/2011 18:36
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A chip off call me Dave Cameron's block I feel!
- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London, 27/04/2011 18:09
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""Girls who comment under facebook pics boasting to their slutty friends about guys they've f***** and had one-night stands with are as low as they come!"
Quite true though.
- Jeff, London, 27/04/2011 17:59
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People of world ,as the goons would have said . now what if he was right..... What ever happened to the right to say what one thinks in this country ,or are we governed by some idiot in europe who can't understand english has not one qualification but has the bloody nerve to tell us what to think and write. enough is enough. we've all had it with these do good ers who just havn't a clue. What next I wonder.
- Hamilton Straker, Ealing London, 27/04/2011 17:43
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good riddance to bad rubbish, Thanet has enough of a history of corrupt and self serving councilors and politicians. Anyone remember a certain Johnathan Aitken and his trusty sword of truth?
Local councilors should be from the local area, preferably born and bred, not some Turkish/Iranian hybrid. Remember the last Iranian who was given a position of authority?
- Lance Johnson, Canterbury, Kent, 27/04/2011 17:31
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So that's what happened to Eric Cantona??
- Paul, London, 27/04/2011 13:32
Hilarious Paul, thanks for the laugh!!!!!!
- KH, london, 27/04/2011 16:16
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Says the man with a delusions of grandeur who goes by the name ( Lord) Pusey....LOOOOOOOOOOL
- Dave, essex, 27/04/2011 14:48
the fact you dont know who Lord Pusey is shows your ignorance, if you really are from Essex you would know, Lord Pusey
- Lord Pusey, London, 27/04/2011 15:41
LORD PUSS...........LOOOOOOOOOOOL
- Dave, essex, 27/04/2011 16:00
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Says the man with a delusions of grandeur who goes by the name ( Lord) Pusey....LOOOOOOOOOOL
- Dave, essex, 27/04/2011 14:48
the fact you dont know who Lord Pusey is shows your ignorance, if you really are from Essex you would know, Lord Pusey
- Lord Pusey, London, 27/04/2011 15:41
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His mother must be very proud of him!
- Sue, Margate, 27/04/2011 15:31
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Slimeball, come on you Thanet girls give him the contempt he deserves. Along with that warsi women its time these people got out of playing polictics, they are no good for us.
- Kat, London, 27/04/2011 14:55
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I'd rendez-vous with Janet
Quite near the Isle of Thanet
She looked more like a gannet
She wasn't half a prannet
Her mother tried to ban it
Her father helped me plan it
And when I captured Janet
She bruised her pomegranate
- Iain Needles Drury, Londonistan, 27/04/2011 14:53
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Thanet girls ARE very accommodating!....LOOOOOOOOOL
- Cheeky chappy, london, 27/04/2011 13:53
when I read generalisations like that I always assume its a weirdo in a mac possibly a middle aged virgin
- Lord Pusey, London, 27/04/2011 14:24
Says the man with a delusions of grandeur who goes by the name ( Lord) Pusey....LOOOOOOOOOOL
- Dave, essex, 27/04/2011 14:48
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Thanet girls ARE very accommodating!....LOOOOOOOOOL
- Cheeky chappy, london, 27/04/2011 13:53
when I read generalisations like that I always assume its a weirdo in a mac possibly a middle aged virgin
- Lord Pusey, London, 27/04/2011 14:24
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Maybe he caught a dose off one?
- Gresham, Marbella, Spain, 27/04/2011 14:09
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next up...
"Slag resigns over Thanet connection"
- Hansel, London, 27/04/2011 14:07
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Thanet girls ARE very accommodating!....LOOOOOOOOOL
- Cheeky chappy, london, 27/04/2011 13:53
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As per his FB Page, he would appear to be of Persian / Iranian extraction... So apologies for the "Turkish" assumption, but it was in no way meant to be a slur just a thought on what went into the thoughts (if any) upon his selection!
And for the record, I’d have barred him for his musical preferences alone!
- West Ham Fan, Aldershot, 27/04/2011 13:48
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He is pals with Baroness Warsi, so it must be a cultural thing going on here.
- darren, guildford, 27/04/2011 13:47
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I wonder whether he'll similarly withdraw from his ambition to be VP Education at the University of Westminster Students Union - that and maybe buy a tie that isn't too short?
- Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher, 27/04/2011 13:39
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I typed Thanet into my sat nav and came across a couple of crackers, wrong to tar them all with the same brush, This chaps just an immature jerk.
- John Hardon, Watford, Herts, 27/04/2011 13:39
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So that's what happened to Eric Cantona??
- Paul, London, 27/04/2011 13:32
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Hang on - Thanet is in Kent? Why the problem with Essex Girls? I fired a comment w/o checking it... Can I be a Tory Candidate please?
- West Ham Fan, Aldershot, 27/04/2011 13:31
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And people wonder why I'm not on Facebook.
Stupid idiot should've kept his comments to himself.
Amd I agree with the others here who've pointed out his age and lack of life experience.
- Seymour Bwana And His Stick That Spoke Thunder, Surrey, 27/04/2011 13:20
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@dhan
But everyone does "have a go" at "Essex Girls"; that was what ex-Candidate Tamiz was alluding to...
- West Ham Fan, Aldershot, 27/04/2011 13:18
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@Colin from Colindale - Agreed, but...
What attributes could a 21yo TRAINEE Solicitor bring to Local Government? If he is a student / trainee, surely he is paying a reduced Council Tax liability, so no empathy with the rest of us getting cained for the "full whack"; at 21 he has not been doing anything that will prepare him for making decisions that would affect the lives of thousands of his constituents... Now, I don't want to be cynical here, but could his name (no inference, but looks to be Turkish extraction) have played a part and he was “parachuted in” without due though being given to his age and experience?
Finally; 21. Car Insurance is high for people of this age for a very good reason. They are perceived as a “risk”. May be all Political Parties should run some sort of “Car Insurance” risk assessment if they are looking at “children” to stand in elections?
Scene – Local Tory Party Office, Thanet and what SHOULD have happened:
“OK: Who do we have next? Payam Tamiz. Aged twenty-one; Trainee Spiv Solicitor (aka Conveyancing Estate Agent); Childish haircut; Suit, shirt and tie ‘combo’ from NEXT; has a FaceBook account… Nope too much of a risk, too high a premium and too much of a cost if he ‘crashes’. No. Rejected. Send the next one in, please…”
- West Ham Fan, Aldershot, 27/04/2011 13:14
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Let that be a lesson to anyone who thinks they can have a go at Essex Girls.
- dhan raj, basildon, 27/04/2011 13:11
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Now there is a rarity! Having to resign over telling the truth!
- Colin from Colindale, London, 27/04/2011 12:47
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