Grantham councillor suspended over racist remark in meeting

The vice chairman of South Kesteven District Council has been suspended by the Conservative Party after making a racist remark at a public meeting.

While chairing a governance and audit committee on Wednesday, Councillor Ian Stokes, who represents Grantham Peascliffe and Ridgeway ward, used the racist slur in response to another member’s comments.

He said: “Well, that’s put a little ****** in the woodpile so to speak.”

The comment sparked complaints from a number of councillors along with external organisations and social media users, with Councillor Stokes reportedly apologising after the meeting.

This morning Conservative council leader Kelham Cooke said in a statement: “As a Conservative group and as a district council, we take any form of racism incredibly seriously, especially when remarks are made that could cause serious offence.

“As a Conservative administration, we consider the use of this type of language by any member completely unacceptable. It is right that Councillor Ian Stokes has formally apologised and withdrawn the remark he made at the committee meeting.

“Councillor Stokes has been suspended from the Conservative group of South Kesteven District Council pending an investigation by the Conservative Party and the results of any investigation to be undertaken by the monitoring officer of South Kesteven District Council.”