Young Kent Councillor Apologizes for Sharing Racist Post

A young councillor from Kent has publicly apologized after sharing a racist post on social media. Kieran Mishchuk, a member of the right-wing party Restore Britain, admitted he did not read the post in its entirety before sharing it with his followers on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post included multiple racist slurs and derogatory language about politicians from various countries.

The controversial post, which was visible to Mishchuk’s approximately 8,000 followers for a day, contained a chart that labeled politicians from the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan using offensive terms. Notably, it used the N-word twice and described certain politicians as being on the “Jew right.” The content of the post included phrases like “Taxing locals to give welfare N*****s,” which has drawn significant backlash.

Upon realizing the nature of the content, Mishchuk, who represents Milton Regis on Swale Council, removed the post on March 3, 2024. He stated, “I might have seen a bit and not read the whole thing. I’m pretty careful with what I repost.” He emphasized that he did not condone the language used in the post, calling it a mistake.

Mishchuk, who is currently the youngest councillor in Kent at 19 years old, has recently made headlines for his political shift. He was elected during a by-election in December, receiving 272 votes. Originally affiliated with Reform UK, he defected to Restore Britain the previous week, a party led by Rupert Lowe, which is perceived as more radically right-wing.

In a recent appearance on the Kent Politics Podcast, Mishchuk discussed the support he has received from constituents regarding his party change. He has also been featured in a BBC documentary with Laura Kuenssberg, where he promoted Nigel Farage‘s party alongside his grandmother.

Mishchuk expressed regret for sharing the offensive post, stating, “Of course I would disavow that language. I don’t condone anything like that—it was a mistake.” He reiterated that he had only skimmed the post before sharing, explaining, “It was reposted in a tired scroll without reading. As soon as I noticed, I took it down.”

The incident has raised questions about the responsibilities of public figures in the digital age and the scrutiny they face regarding their online activity. As political discourse becomes increasingly polarized, the actions of young leaders like Mishchuk will likely continue to attract attention.