The newly elected conservative mayor of Walsall has been removed from the party for a racist post from her WhatsApp account.
Rose Martin claims that someone hacked her account and published the insulting image, which shows five black children watching a white child under the caption: “First day at a Ukrainian refugee school in South London.”
Following an investigation by the National Conservative Party, Martin was removed for six months and ordered to undergo diversity training just nine days after becoming mayor of the West Midlands.
The image was published in March, when Martin was deputy mayor, and was seen by residents who said they were “shocked and disgusted” by the publication and filed a formal complaint with the party, launching an investigation.
Martin then told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that her account had been hacked and she had reported it to the police. “I was compromised and reported it to the police,” she said.
The removal does not prevent Martin from continuing to play the civic role of mayor at which she was elected on May 23 at a ceremony in the Walsall Council Building. Martin, who was first elected councilor in 2003, will be able to continue sitting as an independent representative in the Pelsol area for the next six months until he can apply to rejoin the Conservative Party.
On Wednesday night, Martin said she had been hacked and said he would appeal the suspension.
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Walsall Labor leader Aftab Nawaz said his party could not support Martin’s nomination for mayor because of the problem.
Mike Byrd, the conservative leader of Walsall’s council, told the LDRS that he expected an official notification from the National Party of the outcome of the investigation. However, he confirmed that she had received a six-month suspension, was ordered to undergo diversity training and was ordered to apologize on board the party.
The CEO and the board’s observer are also aware of the complaints.
The Conservative Guardian for comment.
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