Calls for Tory councillor to resign over 'Islamophobic' tweets
A Tory councillor is under pressure to resign after he was accused of tweeting Islamophobic and sexist comments.
Councillor Colin Elcock, who represents Norton on Dudley Council, posted tweets claiming Islam was "domination not integration", and asking whether people in Iran were "all on the dole".
He also responded to what appears to be a porn bot tweet of a woman's buttocks, commenting: "Bloody hell wow! Hello".
The tweets, which were posted in recent days and have now been deleted, have led to two complaints to Dudley Council's standards office.
It comes after the Stourbridge Conservative Association was accused of Islamophobia by former vice-chairman Kyle Pedley in the run up to the general election.
Labour councillor Pete Lowe has called for Mr Elcock's immediate suspension and resignation.
He said: "The comments and actions of Mr Elcock fall well below what is expected of any elected representative in our country.
"I’m calling for Mr Elcock’s immediate resignation and suspension as a councillor owing to the seriousness of the Islamophobic and sexist comments he’s made.
"This is a reflection on the culture and atmosphere of Stourbridge Conservative association.
"It shows the extent of Islamophobia at the heart of the Conservative Party and why it should be investigated fully by the Conservative Party nationally, anything less is a dereliction of duty to every single voter in Stourbridge."
He urged Conservative leader Patrick Harley to take "swift action" to remove Mr Elcock from the council.
Alan Lunt, Deputy chief executive of Dudley Council, said: "The council’s monitoring officer has received two complaints relating to comments on Twitter made by an elected member which will be investigated further before any decision is made."
Dudley Council's ruling Tory group is due to meet with Councillor Elcock tomorrow to discuss the issue.
Conservative councillor Shaun Keasey, said: "Proper procedures are being followed and and no further comment will be made until they have been completed."
Stourbridge Conservative Association has previously denied it has an issue with Islamophobia.
