The Lib Dems stood accused yesterday of employing “underhand racism” to stop one of the party’s leading black activists becoming its next president. 

Pauline Pearce, who was dubbed the Hackney Heroine after she faced down rioters in 2011, quit the race to replace MP Tim Farron via a scathing online attack on the party. 

Announcing her decision on a video posted to social media site Facebook, she accused the party of holding “neanderthal views on diversity.” 

She said: “I have always promoted the party as being the party of second chances.

“But since my running for president I have realised this party really is not quite what I thought it was when it comes to diversity and being inclusive.”

Ms Pearce shot to fame after a video of her berating a gang vandalising a building went viral online. 

The grandmother had herself been a gang member and revealed she has been “ridiculed for my past, as being an ex-convict” during her campaign. 

“I feel quite hurt and let down by this because I always felt the Liberal Democrats had my back but I realise that they do have your back until you are going for a prestigious position,” she added. 

A Lib Dem spokeswoman said the party was “saddened” by Ms Pearce’s decision.

“We urge Pauline to report what she has experienced and will look at her concerns as a matter of urgency,” she added.

Ms Pearce said she would remain in the party but was resigned to remaining “the token person who sits and smiles in the background.”