UK general election candidate denies stirring racial hatred by praising Hitler
An independent candidate in June's British general election has denied stirring up racial hatred by praising Adolf Hitler and calling for Jews in present-day Germany to be gassed.
Barbara Fielding-Morriss, who also stood as an independent in Stoke-on-Trent Central at a by-election last February, will face trial in April after pleading not guilty to three counts of stirring up hatred.
All three charges relate to comments posted between September last year and February 2017 on a blog named Abolish Magna Carta, Reinstate Monarchy.
Fielding-Morriss, who was not represented by a lawyer during a hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, is alleged to have incited hatred by praising Hitler for trying to "clear" Germany of Jews and accusing Jews in the UK of being "cowardly".
The 78-year-old, of Draycott, north Staffordshire, received 210 votes (0.6%) in the UK's general election this year and 137 votes (also 0.6%) at the by-election on February 23.
Granting the pensioner unconditional bail, Recorder David Mason QC advised her to seek legal representation before a further hearing on February 2 next year.
