Ex-deputy mayor of London asked to explain naked Facebook photos

A meeting has been called in order to give a councillor the chance to explain why naked photos appeared on his Facebook page, despite that he said his account was hacked.

The photographs appeared on Harefield Councillor Richard Barnes’ Facebook page on Wednesday, which showed the lower half of a partially naked man, and some were fully nude.

At the time, Mr Barnes told PinkNews.co.uk: “I have been hacked into. I would not post anything like that, I’m far too experienced in politics to do this.”

In an interview with Metro Online, Mr Barnes added: “Do you really think I would be that f*cking stupid after 30 years in politics?”

Ray Puddifoot has now asked the Chief Whip to meet with Mr Barnes in order to give him an opportunity to explain, reports the Uxbridge Gazette.

“It will allow us to consider what further action, if any, is required,” said Mr Puddifoot.

“Our group rules state ‘Members shall ensure that their business and private lives does not cause embarrassment to the group or the Conservative Party’.

“We have not heard from Councillor Barnes regarding this matter and the only information we have on the incident in question is what has appeared in the media.”

The images appeared on Mr Barnes’ Facebook page and were later removed

Mr Barnes lost his seat on the London Assembly, and his job as Deputy to Mayor of London Boris Johnson last year.

Mr Barnes was appointed by the incumbent Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, as a deputy Mayor for London in 2008. Last year, Mr Barnes dismissed former Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone as a “retread” and a “pensioner” in an interview with PinkNews.

Mr Barnes did not immediately respond to a request from PinkNews for a comment.

• Dec 01 2023

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