Tory councillor suspended following Twitter immigration row

The Conservative party have confirmed that Sowerby councillor Mike Payne has been suspended by the party.
Councillor Mike Payne has been suspended pending further investigation.Councillor Mike Payne has been suspended pending further investigation.
Councillor Mike Payne has been suspended pending further investigation.

In a short statement, a Conservative spokesman said: “Mr Payne has been suspended by the Party pending an investigation.”

The suspension comes in the days after a Labour Councillor confronted him over social media posts in 2013 in which he shared an article entitled ‘France Slashes Benefits to Muslim Parasites by 83%’.

Coun Payne defended the action, claiming he was sharing the post in relation to French immigration policy alone.

The Halifax Courier have contacted Coun Payne for comment.