By Amy Glendinning
Chris Joannides, councillor for Enfield in north London, posted an image on Facebook of a woman and child in burkas next to bin bags, joking he was unable to tell the difference
A Tory councillor who joked he couldn’t tell the difference between a child in a burka and a bag of rubbish has been suspended by the Conservative Party.
Chris Joannides, who represents the Tories in Enfield, north London, has had his membership revoked for a year.
He will also not be allowed to stand in next May’s local elections for the party.
The Conservative Party today confirmed his suspension after he posted the image of a woman and child in black burkas standing next to bags of rubbish with the joke: ‘I saw her standing there and told her she had three beautiful children. She didn’t have to get all p****d off and threaten me. It was an honest mistake!’
When branch members were alerted to the picture, Mr Joannides had the whip withdrawn by his local party but was later re-selected to represent the seat.
He was also investigated by the police but no action was taken against him.
However Tory chiefs at Conservative Central Office failed to see the funny side of the picture, posted online last year, and this week told Mr Joannides he was suspended.
A spokesman for Conservative Central Office said: ““Councillor Chris Joannides is not endorsed as a Conservative Party candidate in the forthcoming local government elections in the London Borough of Enfield in May 2014.
“No Appeal is permitted under Party Rules.
“Furthermore, Coun Joannides is expelled from the Conservative Party for a period of 12 months.
“He may Appeal against this decision and it is our understanding that he intends to do so.”
Source: Mirror
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