Lambeth Labor councilor Philip Normal has resigned over offensive tweets

A Lambeth Labor councilor has resigned over a string of offensive social media posts.

Fashion designer Philip Normal used a derogatory word for trans people, made Islamophobic comments and compared Muslim women to penguins in tweets dating back to 2011 and 2015.

He apologized for the language he used when he resigned from his seat in the Oval ward of the borough on Thursday.

Mr Normal became Britain’s first openly HIV-positive mayor last year and raised £500,000 to support people living with the virus by designing a T-shirt inspired by the Channel 4 show It’s a Sin.

The fashion designer produced the shirt with the slogan “La” after being moved by the drama about the struggles of the gay community in the 1980s.

Year and Years singer Olly Alexander, who played lead Ritchie Tozer in the drama, said the tweets were “extremely disappointing”.

Mr Normal said he had approached the Labor Party about the investigation.

Confirming his resignation, he said: “I want to apologize again to everyone I have caused deep hurt and pain through my previous social media posts.”

He added: “Reading them now, I am appalled and deeply disappointed in myself. They are clearly offensive and discriminatory. They do not reflect my views and values ​​today.

“These messages were written before I was active in the Labor Party.

“Since being elected as a local councillor, I have been a dedicated campaigner for equality and against homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, Islamophobia or any other form of discrimination.”