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A Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) who was convicted of using racial slurs towards an activist has given up their affiliation with the Conservative party.
According to a government source, Beckenham MP Bob Stewart has informed chief whip Simon Hart that he plans to serve as an independent member while he appeals his conviction.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats had both urged the Prime Minister to take action against the 74-year-old Conservative backbencher’s “completely unacceptable” conduct.
Stewart was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for making racial slurs towards an activist, instructing him to return to Bahrain.
In December of last year, during a disagreement outside of the Foreign Office’s Lancaster House in Westminster, Stewart made a statement to Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei saying, “You are taking money from my country, please leave!” Stewart was present at a function organized by the Bahraini embassy.
Stewart, who was charged a fine of £600, along with added legal expenses totaling £1,435, declared to the court that he is not a racist and that his reputation was on the line in front of a significant group of ambassadors.
In court, it was reported that the demonstrator had yelled, “Bob Stewart, how much did you receive in exchange from the Bahraini government?”
Anneliese Dodds, the chairwoman of the Labour Party, commented on the recent Conservative scandal regarding the removal of the whip. She expressed her concern and urged Rishi Sunak to address the issue promptly. Wendy Chamberlain, chief whip of the Liberal Democrats, also warned that failure to remove the whip would send a harmful message that such behavior is acceptable.
An attempt has been made to reach out to Mr. Stewart’s office for a response.
The Conservative Party stated that there are no new developments regarding the situation.
Source: independent.co.uk
