Councillor found guilty over racist joke

A Black Country councillor who emailed a joke which sparked a racism row has been found guilty of breaching the council's code of conduct.

Halesowen Conservative Councillor Ken Turner was referred to Dudley Council's standards committee by Labour Councillor Tim Crumpton who branded the joke "disgusting".

But Councillor Turner will not face any disciplinary action as he later apologised for the "error" and has attended a racism awareness course.

The member for Hayley Green and Cradley South today said the process had been "stressful".

He said the investigation came at the same time as he suffered health problems. Councillor Turner claimed the Labour party, including Councillor Crumpton, had "political motivations" for pursuing the matter.

"It has been quite stressful — I believe there are political motivations and maybe I should take this as a compliment that they think of me as a threat to want to pursue this action," he said."

Dudley Council's director of corporate resource Philip Tart today said: "The hearings sub committee accepted the investigation findings and found a breach of the members' code of conduct in respect of failing to treat others with respect. In view of the mitigating circumstances which included an unreserved immediate apology, voluntary suspension from the

Conservative party and equality training being completed, the committee took the decision that no further action was necessary."

Councillor Turner circulated an email on December 2.

Councillor Crumpton today denied his complaint about the joke was politically motivated.

"His statement that this was frivolous is insulting and shows that he has not learned from this experience nor has the equality training appeared to be of any use whatsoever," he said.