Carlford Tory Councillor resigns over sharing racist posts
Carlford Division Conservative County Councillor Robin Vickery resigns from Suffolk County and Ipswich Borough Council
640 complaints received by Councils against Robin Vickery after he shared racist posts on Facebook page
As reported in the Ipswich Star and local and national media, Robin Vickery has resigned from both Suffolk and Ipswich councils after over 600 complaints were received against him for sharing racist posts on his Facebook page. He also resigned his Conservative Party membership before he was subject to an investigation into the racist posts.
Suffolk County Council's monitoring officer reportedly received 620 complaints and a further 20 complaints were logged with Ipswich Borough Council's monitoring officer. Mr Vickery had apparently shared racist tweets calling for BAME people to be deported. Mr Vickery was the county councillor for the Carlford Division which covers most of the the area of the East Suffolk District Carflord and Fynn Valley seat including, Charlesfield, The Bealings,Grundisburgh, Otley and across to Playford, Tuddenham and Westerfield & Witnesham but with parishes near Framlingham of Earl Soham, Brandeston added. Vickery was also elected to the Ipswich Borough Council seat of Castle Hill ward also in the Central Suffolk & North Ipswich constituency.
Normally, a resignation would result in a by-election however the coronavirus pandemic means that there are no local elections held at present and both seats are likely to remain vacant until May 2021.
Protests following the death in police custody of African American George Floyd in Minneapolis have been taking place across the world calling for racial justice and change. 1,000 people gathered in Christchurch Park in Ipswich on Saturday as part of a Black Lives Matter protest.
Today, underlining the need to tackle racial discrimination, inequality, and injustice, acting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said at PMQs, "A black person is 47 times more likely to be stopped and searched - will the PM "abolish suspicionless stop and search powers?"
Sources Ipswich Star :
Councillor quits after hundreds of complaints over sharing of racist posts 09 June 2020 Paul Geater
Other: Vickery quits after sharing racist posts
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