A Wirral councillor who compared a Labour MP to the Ku Klux Klan has been suspended.
David Burgess-Joyce made the reference in a Twitter response to David Lammy, who had raised Donald Trump’s recent remarks about American politicians.
The Conservative representative, 55, also accused Mr Lammy of being ‘an expert in virtue-signalling black issues’ before referring the white supremacist group.
Cllr Burgess-Joyce, who represents the Greasby, Frankby and Irby wards, wrote: “Mr Lammy, if Mr Trump is racist then he’s no doubt learnt it from you.
“You’re an expert in virtue-signalling black issues. You pretend to speak for black people yet you do more damage to community cohesion than any KKK member.”
He later issued a public apology, which Mr Lammy branded as ‘pathetic’.
In response to Cllr Burgess-Joyce’s initial tweet, the Wirral group of Conservative councillors confirmed that he has been suspended from his role.
A final decision on any disciplinary action will be taken by the party’s local branch in Wirral West.