Brexiteer, 21, reveals how Penny Mordaunt saved her from the sexist trolls after she became overnight Question Time sensation as she fights to become youngest Tory MP
- Elena Bunbury was subject to hate for making pro-Brexit point on the BBC show
- Brexiteer disputed Brexit is for old and said 'I don't believe no-deal is a bad deal'
- Following broadcast bikini photos of her were leaked and her sexuality 'outed'
- Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt asked Miss Bunbury 'Are you ok?' after hate
A young Conservative who was subject to a torrent of hate spanning months after sharing her pro-Brexit opinion as an audience member on BBC Question time is now fighting to become the Conservative's youngest MP - after senior female MPs took a stand with her.
While voicing her opinion on Brexit at the filming of the BBC's political flagship show in her home county of West Yorkshire, Elena Bunbury, did not expect to cause much of a backlash.
In a thirty second clip the young Brexiteer disputed that Brexit is for the old, concluding: 'I don't believe no-deal is a bad deal'.
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Conservative candidate Elena Bunbury (above), 21, received death threats and sexist abuse after supporting Brexit on BBC Question Time
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Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt asked Miss Bunbury 'Are you ok?' following the abuse
However upon waking up the next day after it was broadcast she found Twitter ablaze with hate directed towards her, a previously unknown 21-year-old from Holmfirth in West Yorkshire.
Haters even went so far as to dig through her personal photos, sourcing bikini pictures of the young, female, pro-Brexit, Conservative to share with the caption 'Tory slut'.
She received death threats and was 'outed' as a bisexual, something she had kept private from her family and colleagues until it was thrust into the spotlight.
Speaking to the Times Miss Bunbury said: 'It was wild, so unbelievably unexpected'.
However in a generation-Z style retaliation she laid herself bare, re-posting the shamed images of herself in a bikini on Twitter with the caption: 'Enjoy these photos of a stupid slutty Tory bisexual who loves Brexit'.
During the debate show held in Dewsbury on September 20 she defended the UK's decision during the 2016 referendum
The 21-year-old posted two photos of herself wearing bikinis with a message to the trolls in an act of defiance
This acknowledgement of the hate was only met with yet more people jumping on the 21-year-old with only more extreme abuse.
She told The Times: '[The abuse was] a new level of grim.
'I have never felt slut-shaming to such a degree in my life.'
It was then that senior female figures in the Conservative party reached out to offer Miss Bunbury their support.
Miss Bunbury said she was 'unbelievably grateful' to Secretary of state for defence Penny Mordaunt who got in touch with a simple 'Are you ok?', reported The Times.
During the debate show the young councillor said: 'Brexit is the new political football, like the NHS was, that is pushed around to prove points and we need to remember that'
During the debate show the 21-year-old said: 'People voted for Brexit so Brexit is what they deserve'
One Twitter user wrote: 'Utterly disgusting the way you are being treated. 'I don't agree with what you said on QT but my god you are slaying with this tweet and I am behind you a 100 per cent'
The politician offered the services of the Conservative press office to help Miss Bunbury deal with the barrage of hate.
Baroness Jenkin and Edwina Currie also publicly championed the young woman.
After finishing a degree in adventure sports coaching in May 2018 she has worked towards making her entrance into the Tory party, starting as the personal assistant to Mark Prisk, MP.
Miss Bunbury is now the youngest Conservative candidate - in a party where the average age is mid-sixties - set to fight to become a member of parliament in the next general election.
After posting her message to the online trolls on Twitter the 21-year-old said she was met with many encouraging messages
She will follow former party leaders such as Tony Blair, Charles Kennedy and William Hague who also began their careers in parliament as the youngest MP of their respective parties.
During the debate show in September she said: 'The question says do we walk away do we leave it but to do that shows a complete lack of understanding of what democracy is.
'People voted for Brexit so Brexit is what they deserve.
'You speak about potentially businesses leaving but I think what we also seem to forget in this discussion is the amount of businesses that might come in.
'The amount of new jobs that might come in, our relationship with the Commonwealth that can build all those businesses that come in.
Clr Elena Bunbury, a former Holmfirth High School and Greenhead College pupil, was elected to Holme Valley Parish Council in 2017
'Brexit is the new political football, like the NHS was, that is pushed around to prove points and we need to remember that.
'I do not see no deal as a bad deal.'
In her latest tweet the Tory candidate said she now supports Jeremy Hunt to be the next Prime Minister, tweeting: I’ve realised it #hastobehunt is the only option'.
Telling The Times of further hate she has received she details an incident that took place in a petrol station.
The cashier shouting to her: 'Oi! Tory t***! Shouldn't you dress less slutty if you're meant to be a respectable politician?'
However Miss Bunbury said she wont be moulding her character to fit the ancient political scene, telling The Times: 'Good God no, I'm not changing who I am. If you don't like it, don't vote for me.'
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