Tory activist dies by suicide after tweeting allegations of sexual harassment from party members

A young Conservative has tweeted allegations of sexual assault at the hands of Conservative Party members following her death by suicide on Sunday.

Jade Smith, 21, was found dead on Sunday evening near her home in Saltburn, Teeside, with the tweets scheduled to be posted yesterday, during the Prime Minister's address to the Tory Party Conference.

The tweets said she had not felt safe at previous conferences and that her and her friends "shouldn’t have to be worried that our friends are going to be raped at conference or at the very least sexually assaulted."

She also tweeted about her struggles with drug abuse and self harm. Her Twitter has since been taken down.

Jade had starred on the 2018 BBC documentary series The Mighty Redcar, where she was praised for her love of the area and passionate politics.

The tweets read: "So I suppose if you're reading this I've committed suicide probably 3 days ago. This is an explanation of why, however this is also a trigger warning.

"If you don't feel able to read this; don't. But rest in the knowledge I love you and I am sorry."

"There’s one last topic I want to talk about before I go and say my goodbyes.

"And it’s about the Conservative Party. This is the last time I’ll ever have a platform to ask them to change, to beg them for young peoples sake to change.

"Back in 2015/2016 I tried to kill myself several times because of the Tory party. I was institutionalised due to bullying and harassment I received. I was stalked by the press, the press stood outside my college with cameras.

"I was an 17/18 year old female who had been bullied. I’ve always received abuse for being a Tory. But the abuse we receive from each other and the older people in our associations is what takes it too far.

"We shouldn’t have to put up with the bullying from each other. We shouldn’t have to be worried that our friends are going to be raped at conference or at the very least sexually assaulted.

"We shouldn’t have to put up with creepy weird old men maturating over us or grabbing us to go and chat to their friends and try to take us home at the end of the night. There’s a reason we don’t feel safe at conference.

"Look out for each other out there. Remember not everyone looks depressed. Goodbye x"

The supporter had previously left the party aged 18 in 2016, alleging victimisation by officials, yet returned in 2017.

She gained attention in 2017 when, on holiday in Crete, she got a tattoo reading "I love Boris Johnson".

She was an adult social carer, as well as a Brownies and Rainbows leader.

Her boyfriend, Chris Cassidy, said of Jade in his tribute: "On the outside Jade was fiery, passionate, fun and tenacious. She cared deeply about the people and places that helped shape who she was."

Her parents, Steve and Andrea Turner, said: "Jade was a beautiful person with a big heart, but we all knew she was a troubled soul.

"In many ways, she could be wise beyond her years but in others, her immaturity and naivety came across too often, which meant she could struggle to build relationships with friends and family.

"Even those she fell out with, though, will recognise that there was so much more to her and she will be missed.

"But to those of us that ‘got her’ she’ll always be one of a kind."

If you are having suicidal thoughts or need support for your mental health, call the Samaritans on 116 123.