A former political aide to Paul Bristow who walked out on the former MP after “I was treated badly” claims she is the victim of a Tory party smear campaign after discovering key party members had set up a WhatsApp group entitled ‘Argo- No Retards’.
Activist Sophie Corcoran says details of the group were leaked to her by a Conservative member who felt it “made fun of me for being dyslexic”.
Sophie arrived in Peterborough nearly 2 years ago to work for Mr Bristow and was a key member of his re-election campaign team.
Sophie Corcoran says ‘Peterborough Conservatives including Mayoral candidate for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (Paul Bristow) and the group leader (Cllr Fitzgerald) and several councillors are part of a group called ‘No Retards’ where they make fun of me, a girl with a learning disability’She says the reference to ‘Argo’ in the WhatsApp chat is probably because she was spotted by former city council leader Wayne Fitzgerald (a member of the group) having coffee with a known Conservative member.
“I was deeply disappointed when I found out about this group,” she said.
“I was proud to work for Paul and have also been very publicly proud to be a political figure with a significant following that has a learning disability. Conservatives should believe that with hard work by anyone, no matter your background or the challenges you face, should be able to succeed.
“I feel betrayed by these comments and do not think that individuals in positions of power should treat people this way.”
She added: “Many of the comments on this group are designed to try and smear me and delegitimise the complaint I made to Central Office over some of the poor treatment I had received. This is a typical technique these men use to try and belittle women in order to get away with whatever they can.
“I am committed to serving the people of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire and would like to work cross party to ensure that people who are neurodiverse are welcomed in politics and are able to make a valued contribution.”
She says she left Mr Bristow as she felt she had been “treated badly”.
Sophie Corcoran says ‘Peterborough Conservatives including Mayoral candidate for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (Paul Bristow) and the group leader (Cllr Fitzgerald) and several councillors are part of a group called ‘No Retards’ where they make fun of me, a girl with a learning disability’Sophie has recently quit the Conservatives and has become a member and high-profile (she has 200,000 followers on X) campaigner for Reform but decided to ‘go public’ about the WhatsApp group following the brief visit to the area yesterday by party leader Kemi Badenoch.
She has an outstanding complaint to Conservative Party head office about her alleged treatment by party members in Peterborough but believes little has happened. After seeing the post on X by Badenoch, she tweeted: “This post tells you everything that Kemi Badenoch has not fulfilled her promise to ‘clean up the party’.
I’m disgusted to say the Peterborough Conservatives including Mayoral candidate for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and the group leader and several councillors are part of a group called no Retards where they make fun of me a girl with a learning disability
This has no place… pic.twitter.com/GRQEkYeML4
— Sophie Corcoran (@sophielouisecc) February 7, 2025
“She knows individuals in this photo are under investigation- she knows why they’re under investigation and she’s seen the evidence And has yet chosen to ignore. Will show all in the next couple of days but it’s absolutely disgusting that Kemi will turn a blind eye.”
And today Sophie tweeted: “I’m disgusted to say the Peterborough Conservatives including Mayoral candidate for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (Paul Bristow) and the group leader (Cllr Fitzgerald) and several councillors are part of a group called ‘No Retards’ where they make fun of me, a girl with a learning disability”
Sophie Corcoran says ‘Peterborough Conservatives including Mayoral candidate for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough (Paul Bristow) and the group leader (Cllr Fitzgerald) and several councillors are part of a group called ‘No Retards’ where they make fun of me, a girl with a learning disability’Sophie told CambsNews: “They’re trying to run a smear campaign now because they know I have shit on them and I’m tired of being bullied.
“I was always excluded from the fundraisers. I wasn’t invited to the count. I wasn’t allowed to be a polling agent despite the fact that I was running the bloody thing.
“I wasn’t invited to the campaign thank you.
“And I made a leaflet for Paul, and he invited everyone else in the team to deliver it except for me – I didn’t even know it was ordered.
“They didn’t like me because I worked hard, I was a smart campaigner, and they couldn’t stand it.
“That’s why I wasn’t going to back Paul for mayor of course I wouldn’t.”
Sophie said: “During Paul’s campaign, I was going through a stalking case.
Press cuttings from Paul Bristow: now centre of a probe into WhatsApp messenger group which includes the phrase ‘No Retards’“My mother’s cancer returned for the third time, and she was having chemo. My twin was in hospital, and I was missing her.
“I was alone in Peterborough didn’t know anyone, yet I was working – 16 hours a day – for free for Paul Bristow and all they wanted to do was bully me and exclude me.
“Then all of a sudden they try and make me out to be the bad guy when I say ‘you know what I’ve had enough of this I want someone who values me and treats me properly’.”
One of her regrets is the media hype she encouraged which branded the Labour candidate, Andrew Pakes (now the city’s MP) as ‘the man from Milton Keynes’. She said journalists missed the fact that her own candidate, Paul Bristow, lived mostly in St Albans.
“People need to challenge Paul Bristow on the fact that he ran a campaign during the General Election solely focused on Andrew being from Milton Keynes,” she said.
Press cuttings from Paul Bristow: now centre of a probe into WhatsApp messenger group which includes the phrase ‘No Retards’“Nik (Mayor D Nik Johnson) needs to grow a spine and plaster the fact Paul lives in St Albans on every leaflet. It worked for us against Andrew – we came closer than we should have; Nik needs to do the same here.”
These days Sophie is campaigning actively for Reform (she was at the Clacton by election yesterday) and is “trying to lobby for the nomination so that I can stand against Paul – I’ll probably be the only person with the ability to split the vote enough”.
Use of the word ‘retard’ is widely frowned upon, especially among charities that support people across a wide range of issues.
Peterborough based Little Miracles is a charity that supports families of children with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions. They provide a non-judgemental environment and use a holistic approach to support the needs of the whole family.
Sophie Corcoran of Peterborough has been forthright on X about her beliefs PHOTO: Terry HarrisIt specialises in providing advice, guidance, support, activities, training and safe places to any family that needs them. This includes providing support before they are diagnosed and from birth to 25. They rely almost entirely on voluntary donations in order to provide families with the support that they need, when they need it.
Michelle King of Little Miracles told CambsNews: “Personally I hate the word; it is grossly outdated and deeply offensive.
“It should never be used in any context, let alone by individuals in positions of power who have a duty to protect and support vulnerable communities. If such language has been used in a political setting, even an informal one, is not only disappointing but also completely unacceptable.
“Leaders should set an example of inclusivity and respect, not engage in behaviour that fosters exclusion and harm.”
Helen Delmar, Speak Out Peterborough, which acts as a voice for people with a learning disability and autistic people aged 14 or above, described the term retards as appalling.
She said: “The use of such dehumanizing language by elected officials is appalling and unacceptable. It demonstrates a profound disrespect for the very people they are meant to represent and undermines the principles of equality and inclusion.”
“As a Speak Out Facilitator, I empower individuals with learning disabilities and autism in Peterborough to express their needs and influence decisions. Through the work we do, service providers and policymakers come to understand people’s perspectives central to creating a more inclusive community.”
Cllr Fitzgerald, in one of his What’sApp messages, offered this ‘advice’ to the 11 or 12 members of the group.
Happier times: Paul Bristow, now centre of a probe into WhatsApp messenger group which includes the phrase ‘No Retards’, and his former aide Sophie Corcoran“Whilst I have no power to order anything, I’m offering some words of advice to all in our personal and political circles,” he wrote.
“Please refrain from contacting or talking with Sophie who is contacting many of you daily, about any party or association business whether in the past or upcoming as she is clearly unwell right now.
“She has some personal issues and has particularly fallen out with Paul and others. There are real concerns about her mental health right now and she has been advised by many of us to go home to her parents and get help. If in doubt please contact me, John Peach or Paul (Bristow) directly.”
Cllr Fitzgerald and Mr Bristow have been approached for a response.
