A transgender candidate for political office has issued an apology after horrifying social media posts resurfaced in which he repeatedly threatened acts of violence.
Nikita Primrose Sykes, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the North Yorkshire seat of Skelton West, launched his campaign for the May local elections on a platform of advocating for transgender rights. A staunch opponent of the ruling Conservatives, Sykes said the party was “ruining the country.”
In his official campaign announcement, Sykes bills himself as a “trans woman, an agnostic atheist, and a psychology student.” He announced his candidacy this past Thursday under the name Katy Primose Sykes, and promised that he stood for “human rights and equity” as well as stronger “protections for women.”
But historic Facebook posts archived by The Express have resulted in calls for the candidate to be withdrawn, citing concerns over his mental health.
“Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I really really want to kill something,” Sykes posted in May of 2013. Shortly after, writing: “You better fuckin have nine lives coz I fuckin have eight knives.”
In another statement, Sykes threatens to murder those who disrespect him, writing: “One more person calls me a weirdo or filthy cunt then I think I’m going to rip their vocal cords out and use them to slice their knackers off.”
In his Facebook apology, Sykes blames childhood trauma for the posts, and apologizes for the “offense” the statements may have caused. He addresses the recent publication of some of the comments in local media.
“It has come to my attention that a news article was written about some horrifying comments I made back in 2013. I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for making those comments, I am in complete agreement that those comments were out of order,” Sykes wrote in the statement littered with grammatical and spelling errors. “At the time I wrote them I was suffering from mental trauma related to abuse I suffered as a child, and was not receiving any medication or therapy. Since that time I no longer suffer with the same mental health problems, have quit all drugs years ago, and am now in university.”
Sykes’ candidacy has not been officially withdrawn or even addressed by the Liberal Democrats, and Sykes’ most recent comments on Facebook claim he has the “full support” of his local party.
“To those who think I’m been forced to stand down, I’m not standing down from election, I have apologized and taken responsibility for my actions in the past, plus I have the full support of my local party,” Sykes wrote in response to another user.
The local elections Sykes is set to stand in take place on May 4, and the Liberal Democrats currently have 14 councillors sitting on the Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
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