Investigation launched after alleged racial abuse against Gillingham MP Rehman Chishti
Published: 08:50, 13 June 2017
Police are investigating an allegation of racial abuse against MP Rehman Chishti at the election count at Medway Park.
The Gillingham and Rainham MP was allegedly verbally abused by someone at the count as he gave his acceptance speech, after it was announced he had regained his seat.
Mr Chishti, who was on stage at the time thanking people for their support, was apparently heckled by others including Labour opponents.
It was at this point one person is alleged to have shouted ‘Go back to Saudi Arabia’.
Mr Chishti was the third and final Tory to be re-elected to Parliament during last week’s general election.
He received 27,091 votes, just under 10,000 more than Labour candidate Andy Stamp who polled 17,661.
At the time, he said: “I’m absolutely delighted, honoured and privileged.
“I just want to thank all the wonderful people from Gillingham and Rainham who have given me a chance to serve a third term.
“I will do what I have done over the last seven years, which is work hard day-in, day-out for my constituents to make sure we make our town an even greater place to live.”
While speaking on stage, Mr Chishti criticised the Labour campaign, which was met with boos by the audience.
Mr Chishti was criticised for a trip to the Middle East when he led a delegation of politicians to Saudi Arabia to discuss relations between the country and the UK.
The group met King Salman of Saudi Arabia and discussed relations between the two countries, trade, education, human rights and religious freedom in the Middle East.
He faced a potential investigation by the parliamentary standards commissioner over £2,000 a month payments from a think-tank based in the Saudi Arabian capital.
Mr Chishti had been in an advisory role to the King Faisal Centre based in Riyadh, but the complaint was later dismissed.
We approached Mr Chishti for a comment about the abuse allegations but he was unavailable at the time of publication.
A spokesman for Kent Police said: “Kent Police is investigating a report of a racially aggravated public order offence at around 4.15am on Thursday 9 June, 2017 at the Medway Park Leisure Centre in Mill Road, Gillingham.
“Nobody has been arrested at this stage and enquiries are on-going.”
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Lynn Cox