Senior Local Tory Suspended for 'Brentford Taliban' Comment
Action taken after David Giles posted criticism of borough transport policies
David Giles campaigning against Cycleway 9 in Chiswick. Picture: Twitter
Leading local Conservative David Giles has been suspended from the party for comments he made on social media earlier this month.
He posted the following on the Brentford Today and TV Facebook Page with reference to Hounslow Council’s traffic measures, “If the ‘Brentford Taliban’ tries this sort of nonsense in their own wards they will be confronted with ‘shock and awe’ by their own constituents.
“That’s why they are trying out their crazy schemes in Chiswick.”
The comment is believe to be directed at Labour councillor representing wards in the Brentford area who have been supportive of active travel measures including council leader Steve Curran, Katherine Dunne and Guy Lambert.
Mr Giles, who was chair of the Chiswick Riverside Ward Conservatives and is the father of Gabriella Giles who currently represents that ward, made the comment two weeks ago and is understood to have been notified of his suspension shortly afterwards. Sources in the local party have indicated that Mr Giles had been given warnings about his online activity in the past.
He did not respond to our request for comment but in a follow up post on the Facebook Page he originally posted on he claimed he had been smeared.
After making the post and his suspension he asked the administrator of the Brentford Today and TV page to put ‘Brentford Taliban’ in inverted commas.
He made a follow post saying, “To put the record straight, the phrase ‘Brentford Taliban’ was first used by Russell Pearson who isn’t a member of the Conservative Party.
“I used it in my reply to Russell Pearson in inverted commas without in any way agreeing with it. I have since amended my comment so it isn’t liable to misrepresentation but unfortunately my amended comment appears to have been removed.
“I take exception to this attempt to smear me and others.”
The Chiswick, Brentford and Isleworth Association said, “We can confirm that David Giles was suspended from the Association two weeks ago in accordance with our rules and procedures, pending a meeting of the association executive.”
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October 1, 2021