Labour sack 'cabbie candidate' Trevor Merralls over 'calling for the eradication of Islam'

Labour has dumped one of its election candidates due to a series of tweets reportedly posted by the prospective MP online.

Trevor Merralls, who leads a black cab campaign group, said his sacking was the result of a "vicious smear campaign".

The party had been "urgently investigating" claims that the candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup posted tweets calling for the eradication of Islam.

He was linked to a controversial Twitter account which has since been deleted, which posted derogatory comments about Muslims and a "reckoning" for Islam.

A Labour spokesman said: "Trevor Merralls has been removed as Labour's parliamentary candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup. His replacement will be announced in due course."

The @wellingblueboy account has since been deleted but some tweets are still accessible by looking at a cache.

According to Buzzfeed, one of the posts included: "This is all leading to a fight of no surrender total war."

Another user than responded: "Our battle is not yet with the Muslims, but those that appease them!!,"

The @wellingblueboy account replied: "If you follow it to its natural conclusion this is reckoning the left have deserved,"