A councillor has been suspended from the Conservative Party and kicked out of Bolton Council's ruling group over a controversial Facebook post.
Coun Bob Allen came under fire after blaming the "BAME community", "the Chinese", "illegal immigrants" and "NHS managers" for the most recent lockdown in Greater Manchester.
He was quickly suspended from Bolton Council's leading Conservative Group but has now been expelled entirely following a meeting of officials held this week.
He has also been suspended from the Conservative Party nationally, pending an investigation into the statements.
Following the meeting, Coun Stuart Haslam, secretary of the Bolton Conservative Group, released the following statement: "In a meeting that lasted over two hours, the suspension of Coun Bob Allen was discussed.
"After a presentation by Coun Allen and a very full question and answer session, the decision was taken to expel Coun Allen from the group. This decision was taken in full accordance with the model rules which required the support of at least two thirds of the group.
"This was a difficult meeting for all concerned, and we would like to thank Councillor Allen for his considerable contribution to the council over many years and send him our good wishes for his future outside the Conservative Group."
It is not the first time the councillor has been rebuked by his own party.
In 2009 he was suspended over a blog post in which he published a picture of a gorilla beside a story about another councillor.
His recent post caused considerable anger among some Bolton residents even prompted protests in front of the town hall by Stand Up to Racism Bolton.
But, speaking to MyBolton and The Manchester Evening News following his dismissal from the Conservative Group, Coun Allen said he had simply used the wrong language in his statement.
He said: "Hindsight is a wonderful thing and If I could rewrite my controversial Facebook post about why we're in the new lockdown then believe me I would.
"Nobody has objected to my criticism of the government, Public Health England, NHS managers, idiots on the beach, illegal immigrants or China - so I got something right.
"What I got wrong was my casual use of language when I accused all of a community of being responsible for the lockdown. What I should have said, and what I always meant, was that I hold some of that community responsible, certainly not the frontline workers and those who stuck to the rules but just those who ignored the rules or by virtue of lifestyle failed to comply.
"So if I offended anyone by my lack of definition I'm genuinely sorry.
"I should like to thank the many residents who agreed with the sentiment of my views, their support means a lot to me and it's reassuring to know that I'm not alone in my opinion, especially the role of government and its agencies."
He will continue to work as an independent councillor for the Heaton and Lostock ward.
