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A Member of Parliament who gave up their membership to the Conservative party following a conviction for racist behavior has declared their resignation from their position at the upcoming election.
In a short statement on X, previously known as Twitter, Bob Stewart announced that he will not be running for re-election in the London constituency of Beckenham, a position he has held since 2010. The statement did not address his recent conviction.
In the beginning of this month, a source from the Government informed the PA news agency that Mr Stewart had notified Chief Whip Simon Hart about his decision to give up his party whip until the outcome of a potential appeal for his conviction.
Currently, Mr. Stewart serves as an independent Member of Parliament in the House of Commons.
I will not be running for re-election in the upcoming election as it is time for a fresh candidate.
“I have had the privilege and honor of representing Beckenham as its Member of Parliament for 13 years,” stated Mr. Stewart in a social media post.
I am deeply appreciative of those who have provided me with this chance. However, a fresh candidate is needed, therefore, I will not be running for re-election in the upcoming election.
The Beckenham constituency’s geographic borders are set to be altered in the upcoming general election as part of a routine review conducted by the Boundary Commission for England. This review aims to create more consistency in the population sizes of Westminster’s seats.
A proposed new constituency, Beckenham and Penge, has been suggested.
Mr Stewart, 74, who is also a former British Army officer and served as a United Nations commander in Bosnia, was earlier this month found guilty at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court of racially abusing an activist by telling him to “go back to Bahrain”.
The MP was found guilty of a public order offence with racial aggravation by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring. Despite acknowledging the positive character of Mr. Stewart, Goldspring stated, “I recognize that he is not inherently racist, but that is not the charge against him.”
Decent individuals have the ability to engage in negative actions.
On December 14 of last year, while attending a gathering organized by the Bahraini embassy in London, Mr. Stewart was approached by a demonstrator who questioned him about his ties to the Bahraini government by asking, “How much did they pay you to support them?”
Responding to the accusation of racist mistreatment, Mr. Stewart has previously stated, “That’s ridiculous and completely unjust. My life has been, I hesitate to say ruined, but I am deeply wounded by having to defend myself in court like this.”
The member of parliament clarified that he is not prejudiced and explained: “When I said ‘Go back to Bahrain,’ I meant ‘Why don’t you return to Bahrain and express your viewpoint there?'”
A fundraising page created by Brendan Clarke-Smith, the Conservative MP for Bassetlaw, to pay for Mr. Stewart’s penalty and any additional legal expenses has collected over £18,000 so far.
Mr. Stewart is now part of a growing group of Conservative Members of Parliament who have declared that they will not be running in the upcoming general election, which is anticipated to take place next year.
Source: independent.co.uk
