‘Hackney heroine’ accuses Liberal Democrats of ‘underhand racism’

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg with Pauline Pearce outside St John at Hackney Church

Pauline Pearce, dubbed the ‘Hackney heroine’ after she stood up to rioters in 2011, has accused the Liberal Democrats of “underhand racism” and of holding “neanderthal views on diversity” as she announced her decision to step down from her campaign to become party president.

The 48 year-old community activist and grandmother had hoped to take over from Tim Farron MP as Lib Dem party president when his term finishes at the end of the year.

But in a video statement released on her Facebook campaign page, Ms Pearce said that during her presidential campaign she had been the victim of “underhand racism”.

Ms Pearce said she felt “hurt and let down”, claiming that members of the party had “patronised” her for her inexperience and “ridiculed” her past as an ex-convict.

The party said it was “saddened” by Ms Pearce’s decision and that it would be looking into her concerns “as a matter of urgency”.

Ms Pearce gained notoriety during the 2011 riots after expletive-filled footage of her confronting rioters went viral on YouTube, launching her political career.

Announcing her decision, Ms Pearce said she would remain a member of the party but was resigned to being the “token person who sits and smiles in the background”.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “The Liberal Democrats are saddened to hear that Pauline Pearce will no longer be standing for Party President – she is a tireless activist and extremely well-respected within her community.

“We are upset that Pauline feels she has been subjected to discrimination and prejudice, as this behaviour is the opposite of the values of equality and respect we embrace and pride ourselves on as a party. We urge Pauline to report what she has experienced and will look at her concerns as a matter of urgency.”