Mayor resigns over web links to far-right sites

A TOWN mayor has resigned over claims that he liked Islamophobic and farright posts on social media.

Conservative Peter Lucey admitted his behaviour had been “unacceptable” and said he had embarrassed his party and the town council at Wokingham, Berks.

He came under pressure to resign after complaints about his social media links with groups including The Gatestone Institute, a Rightwing anti-muslim think tank, and the “We Are At Home” page for people who “are sick of increasing political correctness”, which links to web pages about white supremacy.

Cllr Lucey, serving his third term as mayor, resigned after an investigation was launched. He said his resignation was “absolutely the right course of action”.

“People in public life need to be unblemished,” he said.

Cllr Andy Croy, who received a complaint from a member of the public, said: “I’m pleased we no longer have an Islamophobic mayor.”

Wokingham Conservatives confirmed that Cllr Lucey was no longer a party member.