A Labour Party candidate has called anyone who flies an England flag “a simpleton” or “a casual racist”. Huw Thomas who is standing Ceredigion wrote online that cars flying the England flag should be vandalised during the 2006 World Cup. He even attacked shops for selling flags:

“The retail sector is also responsible for making the situation worse I think, and all across Britain not only in Wales. The World Cup, to a large extent, is just an opportunity for high street shops to ‘cash in’, using special offers and social pressure to create a fake group mentality – Nationalism Asda style!

“Having said this, I had the opportunity, when I had the opportunity to buy an England flag for half price in WH Smith, Oxford, to answer with the phrase: ‘Since I am neither a simpleton nor a casual racist I must decline your offer’. Poor ‘Stacey’ didn’t know where to look!”

Guido would like to say that he has never seen anything like it, but sadly he has before.

Wales Online has the scoop...

UPDATE: Tory MP Bob Neill calls on Miliband to sack Thomas as a candidate:

“These disgusting remarks have no place in Parliament and are utterly out of touch with the British people. Britain’s flags are emblems of our shared history and our common values – they should be flown with pride not treated with contempt.Ed Miliband rightly sacked Emily Thornberry for her disdainful remarks last year. He must show some backbone and block Huw Thomas from standing as a Labour candidate.”