CCHQ and the Leader of Bromley Council, Stephen Carr, have today suspended Bromley Councillor Peter Hobbins from the party after the content of emails he wrote to fellow councillors emerged, having been leaked to a Lib Dem blogger.
Cllr Hobbins represents the Orpington ward on Bromley council and in recent days he had been contacted by potential candidates wanting to apply to be Conservative candidate for the Orpington constituency. In the emails written in the early hours of yesterday morning to a dozen fellow councillors, he complained about the number of candidates who did not have "a 'normal' English name".
He continued:
"For hells sake. Why are Candidates Department so keen on these foreign names?!!!!... Maybe I should change my name to something foreign - how does Petrado Indiano Hobbinso sound to you?"
An official statement confirming his supension will be issued shortly.
7.30pm update:
Cllr Hobbins tonight tendered his resignation from the Conservative Party nationally and from the Conservative Group on Bromley Council.
In a letter to Cllr Stephen Carr, the Leader of Bromley Council, Cllr Hobbins apologised for any offence he may have caused:
"My comments were unintentional and meant in no way to offend. I am not and have never been a racists in any capacity".
Jonathan Isaby