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Councillor Bob Frost suspended over Liverpool abortion clinic slur | Councillor Bob Frost suspended over Liverpool abortion clinic slur |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A Conservative councillor has resigned from the party in Kent following controversial Twitter posts about abortion clinics and slavery. | A Conservative councillor has resigned from the party in Kent following controversial Twitter posts about abortion clinics and slavery. |
Dover District councillor Bob Frost tweeted the remarks to a prospective parliamentary Labour candidate. | Dover District councillor Bob Frost tweeted the remarks to a prospective parliamentary Labour candidate. |
He said abortion clinics in Liverpool were a form of "crime prevention", and joked that he had "bought two of the staff" from the city's slavery museum. | He said abortion clinics in Liverpool were a form of "crime prevention", and joked that he had "bought two of the staff" from the city's slavery museum. |
His move follows a decision by the local party to suspend him. | His move follows a decision by the local party to suspend him. |
A Conservative Party spokesman said Mr Frost "was being investigated centrally". | |
Mr Frost said he would remain on Dover District Council as an independent councillor. | Mr Frost said he would remain on Dover District Council as an independent councillor. |
In his resignation letter, he said: "The party locally and nationally has more than enough important stuff to do without wasting time on 'complaints' the purposefully offended have made about me." | In his resignation letter, he said: "The party locally and nationally has more than enough important stuff to do without wasting time on 'complaints' the purposefully offended have made about me." |
Speaking to BBC South East, Prime Minister Theresa May said it was important that complaints were "investigated properly". | Speaking to BBC South East, Prime Minister Theresa May said it was important that complaints were "investigated properly". |
"And that's exactly what the party does. I believe the councillor has been suspended and is being investigated," she added. | "And that's exactly what the party does. I believe the councillor has been suspended and is being investigated," she added. |
Mr Frost's comments came in response to a tweet from Charlotte Cornell, the prospective Labour candidate for Dover and Deal, while she was at the party's conference in Liverpool. | Mr Frost's comments came in response to a tweet from Charlotte Cornell, the prospective Labour candidate for Dover and Deal, while she was at the party's conference in Liverpool. |
He tweeted: "The only city I know where the local Marie Stopes clinic is funded by the council as part of their crime prevention program." | He tweeted: "The only city I know where the local Marie Stopes clinic is funded by the council as part of their crime prevention program." |
Mr Frost added: "BTW don't miss the Tate and the Slavery Museum. I visited in Jan when went to see Ken Dodd. Excellent service in restaurant attached. So good I bought two of the staff." | Mr Frost added: "BTW don't miss the Tate and the Slavery Museum. I visited in Jan when went to see Ken Dodd. Excellent service in restaurant attached. So good I bought two of the staff." |
Ms Cornell condemned his comments as racist. | Ms Cornell condemned his comments as racist. |
"These are two things that in modern society are not fit to joke about," she said. | "These are two things that in modern society are not fit to joke about," she said. |
Mr Frost has been suspended from the Conservative Party twice before for posting offensive comments online. | |
In 2015 he made a four-letter Twitter outburst about a Romanian Big Issue seller, while in 2011 he appeared to make comments about black people during a Facebook conversation about the London riots. | In 2015 he made a four-letter Twitter outburst about a Romanian Big Issue seller, while in 2011 he appeared to make comments about black people during a Facebook conversation about the London riots. |
It has also emerged that he made another ill-judged comment in May. | It has also emerged that he made another ill-judged comment in May. |
Keith Single, chairman of the Dover and Deal Conservative Association, said: "Councillor Frost has been suspended by the Conservative Party since May following comments made on social media. | Keith Single, chairman of the Dover and Deal Conservative Association, said: "Councillor Frost has been suspended by the Conservative Party since May following comments made on social media. |
"An investigation is under way and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." | "An investigation is under way and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time." |
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