A TORY Southend Council candidate has refused to “bow down” after she was subjected to a tirade of “vile” social media abuse

Tamkeen Shaikh, 41, from Southend, who is standing as a Conservative for Westborough, refused to stop challenging the “disgusting” remarks.

One troll even linked women wearing headscarves to extremism but Ms Shaikh insists she will continue speaking out about vile trolls.

She said: “There have been many other incidents and Twitter is a place where you cannot control what goes on, especially when people retweet you.

“I’ve turned off my private messages on Facebook because the amount of abuse I was getting was so awful.

“I’ve had people telling me to burn to hell, that I am disgrace to the community and very bad comments about wearing a headscarf.

“It did used to get to me and when I was running as a parliamentary candidate for Barking I did get very upset.

“But the support in the party has been amazing and I do not believe there is racism in the Conservative Party.”

Ms Shaikh said she had never experienced any racism within the party but had suffered abuse at polling stations.

She said: “I am breaking boundaries and being very bold and I know if I am upsetting people I am doing a good thing.

“Social media is a comfortable place for many where they feel they can do and say what they want.”

However, she stressed: “I think more needs to be done by social media platforms to deal with complaints quicker and check on people who are doing this.”

She said the support online has been great and she feels the UK has come so far but there is still work to be done in terms of diversity, acceptance and racism.

She also said it makes her stronger and she will not bow down to it.

Tony Cox, Southend Conservative leader, said: “It’s purely vile and disgusting - there’s no other words for it. I am sorry for what she’s been through but her approach has been marvellous and I hope it sends a strong message to the trolls.”

Other candidates standing for Westborough include: Colin Campbell - Tory, current Labour councillor Anne Jones, Aston Line - Labour, Suzanna Edey - Lib Dems, David Webb- Lib Dems, Vida Guildford - Green Party, Stephen Jordan - Green Party and Dr Vel- Independent 

There are two seats up for election after Charles Willis resigned.