A Tory MP to stand down after racial abuse conviction has added to the collapse of the Conservative Party.
It comes as the young Conservative network is disbanding.
Bob Stewart, who surrendered the Tory whip and now sits as an independent in Beckenham, was found guilty of telling Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei to “go back to Bahrain” during a confrontation in December last year.
Tory MP to stand down after racial abuse
Stewart also told the activist “you’re taking money off my country, go away” outside the Foreign Office’s Lancaster House.
He said in a tweet that it had been “an honour and a privilege” to serve as a constituency MP.
The 74-year-old said: “I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has given me this opportunity. However, it is time for a new candidate, so I will not be seeking re-election at the next election.”
Comment
This comment chimed with a lot of people.
1.
Daniel Sohege wrote: “n most jobs you would be fired for this, not given the opportunity to resign on your own terms. I do seriously worry that there are not enough measures to make MPs accountable, especially independent MPs who have no threat of having the whip removed.
2.
And followed up with: “This is particularly true, I would argue, for those who have committed sexual offences, of which there are currently more than ten who have been directly accused since the last General Election, and rumours of considerably more, who feel that they are above the law.”
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