Why (in my opinion) @Keir_Starmer should show no mercy to the MPs who disseminated far-right smears - a short thread:

This particular smear looks like part of a wider strategy. I’ve heard that FB is full of this sort of content. It’s part of racist-right talking points and transmits virally. It’s damaging and the longer it is allowed to flourish, the worse.

It seems an odd coincidence that three MPs promoted it, apparently independently, this morning. Was it encouraged by their whips or CCHQ, or perhaps circulated in a hard-right WhatsApp group?

A sharp response - legal, parliamentary standards, ministerial code - will make MPs warier in future about sharing this stuff and impede the wider strategy. An investigation might throw up extra information.

There’s nothing to be gained by showing goodwill to these MPs. They’re incorrigible and they all have form. A harsh response may not affect these individuals’ future behaviour, but it will warn others off. The other side love talking about ‘whacking’ dissenters. Whack ‘em back.