Local Conservative councillor in race storm deselected

A Wirral Councillor who launched a racist tirade against a Labour MP online has not been selected to stand in next year's elections.

In an email to Conservative colleagues, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr David Burgess-Joyce confirmed he had been deselected as one of the party's candidates for the Greasby, Frankby and Irby ward in next year's all out council votes. The LDRS understands that selection meetings for the party's candidates have been taking place throughout the week. 

Cllr Burgess-Joyce, who has represented the ward since 2015 and also sits on the Liverpool City Region scrutiny panel, was suspended by the Conservative Party after making deeply offensive comments about a black MP. The councillor said Labour MP David Lammy had done "more damage to community cohesion than any KKK member" in a Twitter outburst.

David Lammy MP

Cllr Burgess-Joyce, who was once tipped to lead the Wirral Tories, made the comments – comparing Mr Lammy to the violent, lawless white supremacist group – in July 2020 in reaction to Tottenham MP's criticism of hugely divisive remarks made by former US President Donald Trump. Wirral Council's Standards Panel, made up of fellow councillors from across the political spectrum, also concluded that Cllr Burgess-Joyce had breached the members' code of conduct.

In the email to fellow councillors, Cllr Burgess-Joyce confirmed he had not been selected for next year's ballot. He said: "I wanted to tell you first before the gloaters did that I was not selected this evening. 

"I have known for some time that this would happen, not least having a fellow councillor on the panel who I had challenged for the leadership of the group (who is also up for re-selection!) together with an ex-colleague who never wanted me as the GFI candidate all the way back in 2015. At least there won't be any competition for the group leadership now."

Cllr Burgess-Joyce said he would now consider what to do going forward but "as the leadership let me down in the past, and continue to do so, I hold out little hope." He added: "I remain a conservative and always will be but it is clear my criticism of certain directions has come to this, despite having a huge majority at my last election."

In the 2019 vote, Cllr Burgess-Joyce won his seat with 52% of the vote, 1,880 votes clear of the second placed Labour candidate. In the email, the former Conservative candidate to be Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, paid tribute to his colleagues.

He said: "I would like to say I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and am proud to call you fellow conservative travellers. You all work so hard and make a real difference. 

"And remember, you are conservatives in Merseyside: a genuine achievement. You epitomise to me the very best of what conservative values are and I genuinely wish you the very best for the coming elections."