A Tory councillor behind a “deceitful” online attack has been suspended by his group.
North Tyneside’s Conservatives came under fire this week for branding Jim Allan, the borough’s former deputy mayor, the “laziest Labour councillor” after he was forced to vacate his seat. Mr Allan has been absent from council meetings for more than six months as he battles illness, but a Tory-run website claimed that he “didn't think it was necessary to attend the meetings he was being paid to go to”.
The comments about the 71-year-old, who has also been suffering with mental health problems and coping with a family member’s serious illness, were described as “an absolute disgrace” by Labour.
Read More: Tories branded 'a disgrace' after accusing councillor battling serious illness of being 'lazy'
They were posted on the North Tyneside Gazette, which claims on its Facebook page to be a local news outlet. A screenshot seen by the Chronicle shows a sponsored social media post for the North Tyneside Gazette page was paid for by Coun Liam Bones (Conservative )and a search of his name on the website suggests he was the article’s author.
It has now been confirmed that the Preston ward councillor “has been suspended from membership of the North Tyneside Group of Conservative Councillors”, pending an investigation by group leader George Westwater. Coun Westwater declined to comment further.
Coun Bones was previously criticised for launching a “misleading” website ahead of local elections last year and for publishing an “unethical” leaflet mimicking the Green Party ahead of this year’s polls.
He said: “I continue to serve as a Conservative councillor and receive the Conservative whip. I was saddened to hear of Mr Allan’s illness, however this whole by-election could have been avoided if the Labour Group had followed the correct procedure to keep Mr Allan in place.
“Labour should have put a motion through full council to exempt him from the six month rule because of his illness, which I’m sure would have passed unanimously. I trust this investigation will come to a swift conclusion and I look forward to retaking my role as a full member of the Conservative group. I will continue to work hard for my residents in Preston ward.”
Former councillor Sean Brockbank, who is chairman of the North Tyneside Conservatives, said he was “disappointed that this story has made it into the public domain, as it may prejudice the outcome of any investigation” and called Coun Bones “one of the most effective councillors in North Tyneside”.
Labour’s current deputy mayor Carl Johnson accused the Conservatives of “gutter politics” ahead of the by-election to replace Mr Allan on July 14. He said on Wednesday: “Jim has been severely unwell and dealing with severe illness of a young family member. Despite this Jim continued with casework and online meetings.
“The Conservatives’ attempt to personally attack Jim on this issue are an absolute disgrace. Their tactics are deceitful and dishonest but sadly typical of North Tyneside Conservatives.”
Mr Allan was first elected to represent Wallsend in 1983 and has served Camperdown ward in the early 2000s. On Wednesday, the Conservatives had said that if Mr Allan was ill then he “should have let someone else take the job – instead of letting his residents go unrepresented for the best part of a year”.
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