Conservative candidate criticised for sharing 'disgusting' Jimmy Savile babysit headline

A Conservative candidate has sparked anger after sharing a controversial article with the headline: "Trust Labour? I'd rather trust Jimmy Savile to babysit".

Craig Whittaker - who previously led the Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers - was accused of "joking about child abuse" when he tweeted a link to Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn's article on Tuesday morning.

In his latest column, Littlejohn mocked Ed Miliband's decision to carve his election pledges into stone, writing: "Trust Labour with the economy and the NHS? I'd rather have trusted Jimmy Savile to babysit."

Savile, who died in 2011 aged 81, was a former BBC DJ and presenter and is now known to have been one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders.

He deliberately targeted schools and children's hospitals.

Mr Whittaker was the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers from 2012 until last month.

He was also responsible for children and young people's services as a councillor between 2007 and 2010.

Labour described the tweet as "disgusting" and Josh Fenton-Glynn, the party's candidate for Calder Valley, called on Whittaker to apologise for "joking" about Jimmy Savile's crimes.

Jack Monroe, the writer and poverty campaigner, was also among those to criticise Whittaker.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party refused to comment when contacted by ITV News about the issue.

ITV News has approached Mr Whittaker for a comment.