Christine Hamilton has been dumped as a charity ambassador for tweets calling the burka sinister and comparing it to KKK hoods.
The former reality star – who is married to ex-Tory MP and Ukip Welsh Assembly Member Neil Hamilton – was dropped by Muscular Dystrophy UK after she posted a photo of the Ku Klux Klan and said: If the burka is acceptable then presumably this is too?
It came after foreign secretary Boris Johnson compared women in burkas to letter boxes and bank robbers in a recent newspaper column.
Mrs Hamilton was slammed by those on Twitter who said she was making prejudice a joke.
I hope youre proud of yourself for perpetuating this idea that Muslim women should be vilified and mocked, one user tweeted.
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In response, Muscular Dystrophy UK said it had severed all links with the broadcaster and author, adding in a statement that it is opposed to all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
Mrs Hamilton said the post was supposed to be tongue in cheek but caused more anger online when she tweeted: For heavens sake – no, I am not comparing Muslim women to KKK members and yes, thank you, I do know the difference.
I was graphically illustrating how full facial cover can be sinister, which is how many people view the burka.
Muscular Dystrophy UK chief executive Robert Meadowcroft said the decision to drop her fully reflects the values of the charity.
A spokesman added: Christine Hamiltons recent tweet about the burka was made in a personal capacity and clearly does not reflect or in any way represent the views of Muscular Dystrophy UK.
We believe in a diverse and inclusive society, respect for all and we oppose all forms of prejudice and discrimination.
Mrs Hamilton said she would remove any references to charities from her social media profile to avoid any embarrassment.
Christine Hamilton is no longer an ambassador of MDUK and all links between her and the charity have been severed.
— MuscularDystrophyUK (@MDUK_News) August 11, 2018
The 68-year-old gained a fearsome public reputation through a number of TV appearances, including the 2002 series of Im A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
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She published The Bumper Book Of British Battleaxes in 1997, and claimed she changed her name by deed poll to Mrs British Battleaxe in 2009 for a publicity stunt.
Mrs Hamilton and her husband became familiar faces on TV after Mr Hamilton, who was implicated in the Commons cash-for-questions scandal in the 1990s, lost his seat in Parliament to anti-sleaze candidate Martin Bell at the 1997 general election.
Mr Hamilton is currently the leader of Ukip Wales.
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