THE CONSERVATIVE party in Pendle has been accused of ‘brushing racism under the carpet’ after a former mayor was suspended.

Last year’s Mayor of Pendle Rosemary Carroll was suspended for three months by the Conservative Party on Monday following an investigation for sharing a ‘racist’ joke on Facebook.

A panel of Pendle Council also decided to ban Cllr Carroll on the council’s committees other than the area committee for 12 months.

While the panel also recommended the full council to censure her, to make a report on the findings of its investigation public and for her to attend social media training.

But Labour Party councillors on the council said the sanctions ‘did not go far enough’ and called for the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and for Cllr Carroll to be ‘expelled’.

Leader of of Pendle Council Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said: “I once again ask Andrew Stephenson MP and Cllr Joe Cooney to take steps to expel Cllr Carroll.

“ I have sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Theresa May asking for her intervention as it’s clear her party in Pendle has serious issues in dealing with this matter.”

Clover Hill Cllr Wayne Blackburn said: “I am grateful to the panel for reaching a conclusion which reflects the anger expressed to me by many residents.

“However, I am disappointed in the sanctions placed and do not believe they go far enough.

“It continues to be a cause of concern that here we have a senior member of their party in Pendle being found guilty of racism and they try and brush it under the carpet.”

But Cllr Joe Cooney, leader of the Conservatives on Pendle Council, said the party had a ‘strong track record of tackling racism.’

Cllr Cooney said: “We took immediate action to suspend Cllr Carroll as outlined in the report. The party association has confirmed the result of the investigation. “