A Darlington councillor who posted a sex offender slur on social media will continue to serve as a Labour member following a six-month investigation.
Cllr David Beckett was suspended by Labour before the Darlington Borough Council local elections in May for a tweet he posted online.
In response to news that Brits would be invited to pledge their allegiance to King Charles during May’s Coronation events, a post on his twitter account read: “Are we seriously being asked to swear that we will ‘pledge allegiance to his Majesty, [his] heirs and successors according to law’?
“There isn’t a chance in hell of me giving such an affirmation to a n***e.”
He was suspended by Labour before the Darlington Borough Council local elections in May but was still elected as a member for the Brinkburn and Faverdale ward.
It is believed the decision came too late for him to be removed from the ballot paper.
He initially deleted his account following a backlash over the comments, and later reactivated it, though it is not clear who the tweet was referring to.
Condemning the post at the time, North West Durham Conservative MP Richard Holden said: “Good old Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party Meet David Beckett, Labour’s candidate in Darlington’s key Brinkburn and Faverdale ward I wonder, given Sir Keir’s extensive legal experience, if he agrees with the use of the word ‘n***e’ in this context.”
Members of Darlington Labour apologised for any offence caused.
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But Cllr Beckett is now able to officially represent the party for the first time since the local elections in May.
A Labour spokeman said: “Following an investigation in line with the Labour Party’s policies and procedures, Cllr David Beckett has now had the Labour whip restored and will continue to represent the people of Brinkburn and Faverdale ward as a Labour councillor.”
Cllr Beckett did not respond to a request for comment.
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