The association is aware of media reports concerning a former candidate for Besses Ward.
Bury North and South Conservative Association have to follow electoral law at all times. This requires us to maintain a strict approval process for both candidate spending and campaign communications.
Repeated failure to follow this process, irregardless of any individual piece of content, is a potential breach of electoral law that the Association cannot sit back and ignore.
In line with our statutory duties, we can confirm that the individual in question took the decision to step down as an authorised Conservative Party candidate. We can also confirm that the individual has been suspended from the Party this morning pending further investigation. It is important to note that suspension is a neutral act and suspension is not used as
a disciplinary sanction in itself.
Whilst we do not usually comment on media speculation, we would like to reiterate that the individual chose to step down as a candidate, and was not suspended from the Party until this morning. It is the Association that handles Conservative Party membership, not the Leader of the Conservative Group on Bury Council, and allegations to the contrary are demonstrably false. In addition, the idea that either Nick Jones, the Leader of the Conservative Group, or Russell Bernstein, the agent for Besses Ward, are anti-Semitic is a clear act of libel, and appropriate action will be taken by the relevant parties. The Association will be making no further comment on this matter.