NEW Forest councillors have hit back at Sir Desmond Swayne, after the MP said US rioters "have it coming" in response to protests following the death of George Floyd.

In emails shared by two of his constituents on social media, Sir Desmond Swayne said "racism is a cancer, and I'm glad that the perpetrator is on a murder charge. Nevertheless, looters, aronists and rioters have it coming."

Constituent Millie Edland said she was "disgusted" by his email response to her.

Jack Davies, Liberal Democrat councillor for Pennington, said: "“I don’t know if the Conservative MP truly believes his own words when he says what he does but it has to stop.

“Local residents should be proud of their MP - not embarrassed. We deserve better than a pound-shop Donald Trump.”

Salisbury Journal:

In another email by another of Sir Desmond's constituents, who asked to be identified only as Eleanor, has had a post on social media of his response to her retweeted 12,700 times and liked 20,400 times.

When asked by Eleanor to "condemn President Trump's actions, support BLM [Black Lives Matter]/ black people in our community and urge the UK government to take action", he said: "Sorry to disagree. Arsonists and looters have it coming."

Councillor John Haywood, Labour, councillor for Ringwood North, said: "It appears that Sir Desmond doesn't believe that certain groups of people are worthy of the due process of law.

"I hope that he is prepared to reassure our minority communities in New Forest West that he is against the sort of things we are seeing in the US."

Sir Desmond told the Journal: "My comments were confined to looters and arsonists.

"I support those who demonstrate lawfully against what has been the dreadful death of George Floyd".