The 7 times Kent councillors were racist and their disappointing punishments

Every single political party would say they do not tolerate racist views of any of their members or representitives.

But there have been a few occasions in Kent when someone in local politics has said something inappropriate at best.

The circumstances stretch from criticism over words "taken out of context", to full-blown, vile, racist rants.

We took a look at 7 times Kent councillors were racist and their shameful lack of punishment.

Paul Messenger

The Conservative county councillor for Ramsgate has recently admitted writing Islamophobic posts on social media.

Paul Messenger has been suspended from the party while he is investigated over the posts, which were made at least five years ago.

The Facebook posts said Muslims living in Britain "wanted to turn the whole country Musilic. Whether this is achieved by violent or stealth, they would prefer this".

Further in his ignorant rant, Cllr Messenger even suggested the British Islamic Society should pay for MI5's work in "the protection and prevention of ‘home grown’ Islamic threat".

After initially denying he'd written the posts, then later admitting it, Cllr Messenger admitted they were "repellent and ignorant".

He wrote a grovelling apology to the "Muslim community of the UK" among others for his "abhorrent views".

Punishment? He has been suspended and will no longer be eligible to stand in the May local elections for the Conservatives.

Bob Frost

The former Dover District Councillor was suspended from the Conservative party in September last year for posting controversial comments on Twitter about abortion clinics and slavery.

He said Liverpool abortion clinics were a form of “crime prevention” and joked he had “bought two of the staff” from the city’s slavery museum.

His offensive comments were sent in response to his opponent Charlotte Cornell who tweeted a selfie from the Labour conference in Liverpool.

But Cllr Frost replied: "B*******. By the way, don't miss the Tate and Slavery Museum. I visited in Jan when we went to see Ken Dodd.

"Excellent service in restaurant attached. So good I bought two of the staff."

It wasn't the first time he'd been suspended from the party.

The 66-year-old councillor caused outrage after making the comment "jungle bunny" on Facebook during the August 2011 riots in English cities.

While Cllr Frost was later cleared of wrongdoing by his party, the row led to him leaving his job as a teacher at Sir Roger Manwood's School in Sandwich.

In March 2014 he came under fire for using the terms "frogs", "sons of camel drivers" and "ragheads" on social media.

The following year, he came under fire for posting a tweet telling a Big Issue seller to "f**k off back to Romania."

Punishment? He has now resigned from the party and is being investigated by centrally.

Trevor Bryant

Edenbridge Conservative councillor Trevor Bryant was accused of racism after wearing blackface make up during a school Bonfire Night parade.

Onlookers said they were astonished to see 'Black and White Minstrel' styled characters walking ahead of a Caribbean-themed float.

Cllr Bryant was one of three other PTA members who wore the makeup in what witnesses described as an "unacceptable and racist" manner. 

Photos show him wearing a frilly shirt and hat, with the make-up.

One father, who asked not to be named, said; “This was black-facing and it was highly offensive and shocking. Bad taste all round. It was the person doing it who did the minstrel jazz hands to add to it as well.”

Hever school's headteacher Joanna Stratton said it had been "an error of judgement" made by a small number of people from the PTA.

She added the school had only become aware of it after the event.

Punishment? None. Councillor Bryant continues to serve on Edenbridge Town Council.

Sue Beer

Labour Councillor Sue Beer denied she was being racist or that she even said that said Deal town carnival courts are “better now it has chubby, coloured girls”.

The comments were allegedly made during a conversation about grant funding with the Carnival Association chairman.

A complaint was made to Dover District Council but Cllr Beer claimed she had been misquoted and had not used the word "coloured".

She said her comment had been intended as a compliment, that she wouldn't use that word and she "probably said black".

Punishment? None. Cllr Beer is still serving on Deal Town Council.

Peter Walker

Dover District Councillor Peter Walker was suspended in October last year for using the phrase "n***** in the woodpile" in a private meeting.

The Cllr for Eythorne and Shepherdswell reportedly used the phrase at an internal Labour meeting but insisted the remark had been taken out of context. 

In his defence, Labour leader Mike Eddy said the whole issue was a "storm in a teacup" and he told KentLive Cllr Walker's comments were in reference to a play.

Just one month later Cllr Walker resigned from the party saying he had been a victim of "hysterical political correctness".

Cllr Eddy also left the Labour party and defected to the Greens claiming he had received a number of "bullying" emails regarding the race row.

Punishment? Both Cllr Eddy and Cllr Walker opted to leave the Labour party. Cllr Walker was suspended first but didn't face further punishment.

Andrew Bowles

Swale Borough Council leader Andrew Bowles was heavily criticised for supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson last month.

Cllr Bowles retweeted a claim that the former EDL leader's ban from Facebook and Instagram was a "disgraceful injustice" and urged others to retweet if they agree.

Tommy Robinson was jailed for 12 months for breaking the law over a high profile court case by live streaming a Facebook video and making comments that could have brought the trial down.

He was later banned from the social media platforms for continually breaking their policies on hate speech.

He repeatedly posted calling for violence against Muslims, with dehumanising language and in a manner of organised hate.

But when confronted about the retweet, Cllr Bowles said he was defending the far-right leader's right to free speech and not endorsing his views.

Punishment? None. He continues to serve as Swale Borough Council leader.

Rozanne Duncan

Ukipper Rozanne Duncan made national headlines in 2015 for her vile comments made in a BBC TV interview.

Then Thanet councillor for Cliftonville East, Rozanne was expelled for "bringing the party into disrepute" after admitting she had a "problem" with "n*****".

She said she would refuse to attend a dinner if steaded next to a black person, in the BBC Two documentary about Ukip.

Before making her abhorrent comments, she warned "I have to watch my tongue because I can be very outspoken".

Yet she bulldozed on with her unbelievably ignorant opinions, which in full were: “The only people I do have problems with are n***** and I don't know why.

"I don't know whether there's something in my psyche or whether it’s karma from a previous life or whether something happened to me as a very, very young person and I’ve drawn a veil over it, because that sometimes happens, doesn’t it?

“But I really do have a problem with people with Negroid features, I really do. A friend of mine said ‘what would you do if I invited you to dinner and I put you next to [one]’, and I said: ‘I wouldn’t be there, simple as that.’”

Punishment? Thankfully she was expelled from the party and has disappeared from the public eye. But that's as far as her punishment went.