'Racist' Tory will not be kicked out

Report by Kathy Bailes

Party will reprimand councillor in 'jungle bunnies' row.

A TORY councillor who was at the centre of a racist remark storm in August has had his future decided by the district party.

At a group meeting on Tuesday night it was agreed to extend Bob Frost’s suspension from the party until November 30.

Mr Frost, who was elected in May to represent North Deal, will also be issued with a severe reprimand - but will not get kicked out of the party. Instead he will be warned about his future conduct.

The recommendation, made by district council leader Paul Watkins to the group, follows the posting of a racist comment by Mr Frost on his Facebook page less than 24 hours after riots flared in Tottenham.

The former maths teacher, who lost his job at the Sir Roger Manwood school in Sandwich and was suspended from the Conservatives as a result of the comment, wrote an insult which alluded to the riots in London and included a derogatory term for ethnic minorities - “jungle bunnies”.

Mr Frost tried to amend the comments three days later by posting: “Looking at the dictionary it would appear that the term jungle bunnies is pejorative [sic] and is a racist slur relating to African Americans.

“Needless to say I did not mean to use any offensive racist term and was referring to the urban jungle.”

He added: “As for the bunny bit ... I chose something I thought was innocuous and also cuddly.”

The “apology” was taken down from the site the same night.

He later issued a statement, saying: “What I said was wrong and I apologise unreservedly”

In one of three e-mails to the Express this week, Mr Frost said: “Well done.

“Who lost out for yesterday's chip wrappings? This is what I used to do.”

Attached to the message was an article from a teaching publication about his work.

Mr Frost declined to comment further.

Mr Watkins said: “The decision has been made. This episode should now be behind us and we are looking forward.”