UK politician's Facebook post on immigrants a new low

The Facebook post that landed Mike Kusneraitis in trouble. Photo / Facebook / Screengrab

A UK politician is being investigated after sharing photo of a boat full of 14 naked women with the caption: "If Carlsberg did illegal immigrants."

Mike Kusneraitis, a Conservative councillor on the Tory-run Runneymede Borough Council in the south of England, said he should be judged on his actions in the community, not by "misjudged postings on social media".

The councillor admitted making a number of "offensive" postings on a Facebook page, which have now been removed.

Among the postings included a dog with a towel on his head and a sexually explicit cartoon, both posted on the Facebook page of the Peoples Front of Egham, which is currently unavailable.

He also posted an image on July 24 showing a boat full of 14 naked women, with a caption reading: "If Carlsberg did illegal immigrants."

Writing on his own Facebook page at the weekend, Mr Kusneraitis apologised if he offended anyone.

He wrote: "I would like to state that it was never my intention to offend or upset anyone and if I have done then I want take this opportunity to apologise sincerely and wholeheartedly.

"Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not and have never been a racist.

"Judge me by my actions in the community not by a misjudged post on social media."

The posting comes as European politicians come under fire over a mounting refugee crisis.

Record numbers of migrants fleeing violence and poverty in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea are trying to reach Europe this year, despite the risks of perilous sea crossings and little humanitarian assistance.

Austria has stepped up inspections at its Hungarian border after 71 migrants suffocated in a truck. In Greece the coast guard said it had picked up nearly 2500 migrants in search and rescue operations since Friday.

- Daily Mail and AP