Tory leader Keith Brookes suspended after sex act allegation

LOCAL Tory group leader Keith Brookes has been suspended from the Conservative Party in the wake of allegations that he committed a sex act in his garden.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party yesterday confirmed that Councillor Brookes had been suspended with immediate effect in line with party rules, as reported on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Deputy group leader and fellow Haverstoe ward councillor Margaret Cracknell will assume the role of acting group leader.

Councillor Brookes will, however, be able to continue serving in his capacity as a councillor.

Councillor Brookes, 67, of Bolingbroke Road, appeared at Grimsby Magistrates' Court on Monday accused of outraging public decency, by allegedly committing a sex act in his garden.

No formal plea was taken but Councillor Brookes's solicitor Nick Furman said his client would be "vigorously denying the matter".

Councillor Brookes was released on conditional bail.

In a brief statement, a spokesman for the Conservative Party said: "In line with party rules Councillor Keith Brookes has been suspended from the party with immediate effect."

A spokesman for North East Lincolnshire Council confirmed that Councillor Brookes was still a serving councillor on the authority.

Under the Local Government Act 1972 someone can only be disqualified from serving as a councillor if they:

Already work for the Local Authority concerned.

Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.

Have a criminal conviction involving a prison sentence of three months or more (including a suspended sentence) in the last five years.

Are otherwise specifically disqualified from holding office by order of the court.

The spokesman added: "This is a personal matter and as such it would not be appropriate for the authority to make any comment on the issue."

It is not clear whether or not Councillor Brookes intends to carry on serving as a councillor while the court proceedings are ongoing.

He was yesterday unavailable for comment.

It is also unclear whether or not he will attempt to regain the leadership, which he has held since 1991, if he is cleared.

In February last year he announced that he would be stepping down from the role in 2014, with a potential successor

due to be chosen as a "leader elect" sometime this year.

At the time he said he intended to continue serving as a ward councillor after handing over the leadership. He is due to defend his seat in 2015.

Married with two grown-up daughters, Keith and his wife currently reside in a semi-detached property off Bolingbroke Road.

Born in the Haverstoe ward, he worked for Lincolnshire Ambulance service for almost 40 years, becoming Grimsby-area superintendent, before his retirement in 2002.

He was elected to Cleethorpes Borough Council in 1987, and served as mayor of the resort in 1992-93.

He took over as Conservative group leader in 1991, and has served as leader of both Cleethorpes Borough and North East Lincolnshire Councils.