New mayor is suspended by Tories amid race row
WALSALL’S newly elected Mayor has been immediately suspended by her party for six months over a ‘racist’ post that appeared on her WhatsApp account.
Councillor Rose Martin was this week hit with the sanction by the national Conservative Party and also ordered to undertake diversity training following an investigation – just nine days after being inaugurated as mayor.
The picture on her social media feed showed five black children looking at one white child under the caption “First day at school for a Ukrainian refugee in South London”.
A resident saw the WhatsApp post and lodged an official complaint with the national Conservatives, sparking the official party investigation into the allegations.
At the time, Councillor Martin told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she had been hacked and had reported the matter to the police.
The council’s monitoring officer was also informed and investigations are ongoing.
The mayor was unavailable for comment as the Post went to press.
It is understood she still has time to lodge an appeal against the suspension should she wish to do so.
Walsall Council and Tory group leader Mike Bird said he was awaiting official notification from the national party on the outcome of its investigation.
But he confirmed he was aware Councillor Martin had been given a six month suspension, directed to undertake diversity training as well as making an apology to the party board.
However, at the mayormaking ceremony, both council leader Mike Bird and deputy Garry Perry had paid tribute to Cllr Martin’s dedication.
Cllr Perry, a fellow Pelsall ward councillor, said she was a woman of “kindness, encouragement and care” and worked hard to support vulnerable residents.
But Labour group leader Aftab Nawaz said: “The office of mayor is really important and we on this side totally respect the office. But there are some serious allegations that have been made and there are, at the moment, still allegations and I’m afraid we feel we cannot support the nomination.”
Following the meeting, Cllr Bird said of Labour’s stance: “It was disappointing on a ceremonial occasion such as this.
“However, I understand the position and the investigation is still to be completed.”
Cllr Martin was first elected in 2003, representing the Paddock ward for 18 years before moving to Pelsall.
She was previously a member of the cabinet, heading up the adult social care portfolio before replacing Labour stalwart Harbons Singh Sarohi as deputy mayor following his death last year.
The controversy has cast a shadow over her mayoral year and could spark calls for her to resign from a role she was only elected into in a ceremony at Walsall Council House last Monday.
The suspension does not prevent Councillor Martin from continuing as civic leader or as an elected member for the Pelsall ward.
She will sit as an independent councillor for the six months before being able to apply to rejoin the party once the suspension period has been served.
A resident, who did not want to be named, said: “The post was disgusting and racist. The question now is how can someone continue being the mayor of such a diverse town as Walsall?”