Tories under attack in row over race jibe

Report by Kathy Bailes

Labour anger at 'slap on wrist'

RACE jibe Tory councillor Bob Frost sparked angry and heated exchanges in the council chamber as the controversy over his “jungle bunnies” remark show no sign of fading away.

Mr Frost was last week suspended from the party until November 30 and was severely reprimanded for making racist comments on his Facebook page following the August riots.

Punishment

The Labour Party used the councillor’s punishment to accuse their Tory opponents of being weak and afraid of a by-election in Mr Frost’s ward.

District Labour leader Gordon Cowan branded the Conservatives’ decision not to expel Mr Frost, councillor for North Deal, from the party as “absolutely disgraceful”.

At times shouting across the chamber Mr Cowan said a further suspension until November 30, a reprimand and a warning about his future conduct amounted to no more than “a slap on the wrist.”

Mr Cowan said: “He should not serve the local community or on any local authority again.

“I believe there are two reasons why the decision was made. They thought maybe there would be a by-election and they would get trashed in it.

“Another reason is another councillor has given the same comments, if not worse, on the Doverforum.

“It is a total disgrace.

“We will push and push because as far as I, and my group, are concerned there is no place in this chamber for that person.”

Vulnerable

In response Tory council leader Paul Watkins said: “Our councillor, in my eyes, left himself vulnerable and embarrassed this district council.

“I would say to Gordon Cowan ‘he who casts the first stone’ and I will leave it at that.”

Councillor Frost lost his job as a maths teacher at the Sir Roger Manwood school in Sandwich in the wake of the scandal erupting, following an exclusive report in the Express.