Councillor's 'joke' sparks race row

A Black Country Conservative councillor has suspended himself from the party after an email sent to council members as a joke sparked a racism row.

Halesowen Councillor Ken Turner today apologised for the "error" and said he would attend a cultural awareness course.

The member for Hayley Green and Cradley South has been referred to Dudley Council's standards committee by Labour Councillor Tim Crumpton who branded the joke "disgusting".

Councillor Turner circulated an email on December 2 on his council account to all councillors containing what was called a joke about a Somalian immigrant.

The email, seen by the Express & Star, describes it as "maybe the best joke of the year".

It talks of a Somalian immigrant in London who asks a series of people if they are British before being told by an African lady all the British are probably "at work".

Councillor Turner today said he had no intention of stepping down from his council seat.

"It was a joke that I thought would maybe raise a titter but when I heard that someone may have taken offence to it I instantly apologised.

"It was an error and I realise that. I will let the procedures take their course and I am going to attend a diversity awareness course.

Councillor Turner said he had been under pressure because members of his family were receiving hospital treatment and he had also been devoting up to 12 hours a day to his public duties.

"All I would say is I hope the opposition have a happy Christmas," he said.

Labour Councillor Tim Crumpton said: "This is a racist joke and it is disgusting. For a senior councillor to have sent out something like this goes beyond the pale.

"With all that happened in Dudley over the past few years with the EDL, this is a disgrace."

Councillor Turner sent out a further email to all councillors apologising for the email on the day after it was sent.

"Dudley Council spokesman Phil Parker said: "We have received a complaint under the members' code of conduct which will go to the referrals sub-committee of the Standards Committee to determine the appropriate action. We are not in a position to discuss individual cases any further until the sub-committee has determined a way forward. Any full hearing of the Standards Committee would be held in public."