James McMurdock has been accused of starting an “N-Tower”, which is when social media users supposedly post individual letters to spell out a slur to get around moderation rules
Ex-Reform MP James McMurdock has been reported to parliament’s standards watchdog over allegedly facilitating a racist slur against a journalist.
Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty has accused the now-independent MP of starting an “N-Tower”, which is when social media users supposedly post individual letters to spell out a slur to get around moderation rules.
In a now deleted post on X/ Twitter, Mr Murdock replied to a story in relation to Sky News’ Mhari Aurora with the letter “N”, to which five other users then replied with individual letters to spell out the racist slur N*****.
The story, published by rightwing political website Guido Fawkes, reported on Ms Aurora asking Nigel Farage about “project fear” at a press conference on crime.
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Mr Obese-Jecty has written to Parliament’s Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg to ask him to investigate.
In his letter, he said: “Mr McMurdock will be able to clarify what he intended to do by apparently starting the ‘N-Tower’ and his X archive, available to download only by him, should evidence both the original post and its subsequent deletion.
“I would hope that he would feel able to submit the archive in support of any investigation.
“Having repeatedly experienced this type of online racial abuse myself I am horrified that a fellow Member of Parliament would apparently see this as a legitimate means of challenging a Westminster lobby journalist in a public forum.
“I sincerely hope that there is a coherent and believable explanation for this horrendous action.” Mr Greenberg is understood to be aware of the allegations and will now assess whether to open an inquiry.
In July, Mr McMurdock left Reform UK after suspending himself over questions related to Covid loans. Mr Farage previously faced questions on Mr McMurdock’s membership of Reform UK after it emerged the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock had been jailed for repeatedly kicking his former girlfriend in 2006.
Mr McMurdock said: “Ben’s complaint regarding the alleged posting of a single letter is beyond ridiculous. I believe, Ben Obese Jecty, a sitting Member of Parliament has broken the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and Communications Act 2003, by writing the N-word in full.
“I find his conduct grossly offensive, indecent, and obscene. As you know, this is a criminal offence. I will not repeat his language but have photo evidence.”
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