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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tory suspended in homophobic row | Tory suspended in homophobic row |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A Conservative Wirral councillor has been suspended by his group over claims he posted a homophobic comment on the social networking website, Facebook. | A Conservative Wirral councillor has been suspended by his group over claims he posted a homophobic comment on the social networking website, Facebook. |
| Denis Knowles, who represents the Seacombe ward, wrote about "limp-wristed" boys leafleting in the area. | Denis Knowles, who represents the Seacombe ward, wrote about "limp-wristed" boys leafleting in the area. |
| The comment has since been removed and Mr Knowles apologised, saying he had never held homophobic views. | The comment has since been removed and Mr Knowles apologised, saying he had never held homophobic views. |
| But Wallasey's Labour MP Angela Eagle, who is gay, said she was "shocked and appalled" by the comment. | But Wallasey's Labour MP Angela Eagle, who is gay, said she was "shocked and appalled" by the comment. |
| In a statement, Councillor Jeff Green, leader of Wirral's Conservative Group, said: "Councillor Knowles removed the comments and has now apologised for any offence that has been caused. | In a statement, Councillor Jeff Green, leader of Wirral's Conservative Group, said: "Councillor Knowles removed the comments and has now apologised for any offence that has been caused. |
| As a trade unionist and member of the Labour Party for over 30 years I have never held views that could be construed as being homophobic Denis Knowles | As a trade unionist and member of the Labour Party for over 30 years I have never held views that could be construed as being homophobic Denis Knowles |
| "I have taken the additional step of suspending his membership pending an investigation into his remarks. | "I have taken the additional step of suspending his membership pending an investigation into his remarks. |
| "The Conservative Party has changed and, by this swift action, we have demonstrated that change." | "The Conservative Party has changed and, by this swift action, we have demonstrated that change." |
| BBC Radio Merseyside's political reporter Leanne Harper said the comment appeared on Mr Knowles' Facebook page on 18 March. | BBC Radio Merseyside's political reporter Leanne Harper said the comment appeared on Mr Knowles' Facebook page on 18 March. |
| It read "an unusual group of young boys leafleting in Seacombe this weekend, of the limp wristed variety and definitely not local", she said. | It read "an unusual group of young boys leafleting in Seacombe this weekend, of the limp wristed variety and definitely not local", she said. |
| The comment has since been removed from the website | The comment has since been removed from the website |
| In a later posting, Mr Knowles - who only joined the Tories last year after defecting from Labour - apologised. | In a later posting, Mr Knowles - who only joined the Tories last year after defecting from Labour - apologised. |
| "As a trade unionist and member of the Labour Party for over 30 years I have never held views that could be construed as being homophobic," he wrote. | "As a trade unionist and member of the Labour Party for over 30 years I have never held views that could be construed as being homophobic," he wrote. |
| "Having recently joined the Conservative Party, a political party I feel much happier with, I am proud to say that I serve all of the people regardless of colour, creed, or sexual preferences." | "Having recently joined the Conservative Party, a political party I feel much happier with, I am proud to say that I serve all of the people regardless of colour, creed, or sexual preferences." |
| But his apology - and subsequent suspension - does not go far enough, according to Ms Eagle, who has written to his party's leader. | But his apology - and subsequent suspension - does not go far enough, according to Ms Eagle, who has written to his party's leader. |
| 'Very, very offensive' | 'Very, very offensive' |
| "I was shocked to begin with and then appalled," she told BBC Radio Merseyside. | "I was shocked to begin with and then appalled," she told BBC Radio Merseyside. |
| "It [the suspension] is certainly a good start but I think David Cameron needs now to make a statement that this kind of approach to politics is not acceptable in modern Britain. | "It [the suspension] is certainly a good start but I think David Cameron needs now to make a statement that this kind of approach to politics is not acceptable in modern Britain. |
| "I have many people supporting my campaign in Wallasey - young, old, gay, straight, men, women - and I don't think we need people who are supporting Labour in Wallasey to be caricatured in this very, very offensive way." | "I have many people supporting my campaign in Wallasey - young, old, gay, straight, men, women - and I don't think we need people who are supporting Labour in Wallasey to be caricatured in this very, very offensive way." |
| Mr Knowles has not publicly commented on the row. | Mr Knowles has not publicly commented on the row. |
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| Ms Eagle has written to David Cameron about the row |