Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Gedling says a “despicable” homophobic slur posted about him on Facebook by a Conservative Party member and former local election candidate was “utterly unacceptable”.

Michael Payne, who is also Deputy Leader of Gedling Borough Council, said a resident first alerted him to the slur by Keith Seaton.

It was posted on a community group on Facebook on January 9.

Mr Seaton, whose Facebook bio says he is deputy chair for the Gedling Conservatives, wrote the comment as part of an exchange about local politics.

Mr Payne will stand for Labour in Gedling at the next General Election, due to be held later this year. The seat is currently held by Conservative Tom Randall.

In responding to another person’s comment supporting Cllr Payne’s bid to win the seat, Mr Seaton commented: “you prefer ****y boys”.

Mr Seaton was suspended from the Conservative Party shortly afterwards and has since apologised.

Mr Seaton also stood unsuccessfully as a Conservative Party candidate in the May 2023 Gedling Borough Council local election.

Cllr Payne told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s an utterly outdated and unacceptable view, particularly for someone who stood to represent the Conservatives a matter of months ago.

“When you’re in elected office you are there to represent everyone. Those despicable views show he wasn’t fit for elected office.

“I’ve never come across this before. It shows him for the kind of person he is and I’m sorry he holds those unacceptable views.

“This wasn’t a slip of the tongue. This was an open outright personal attack on social media from someone in a senior position.

“There is no place for attacking someone for who they’re married to.

“My message is: challenge me on my politics but don’t attack me for my personal life.

“We shouldn’t be here to attack someone for who they love.”

He said it was “good news” that Mr Seaton had been suspended quickly, but questioned whether he will be permanently expelled from the party.

Cllr Payne added: “I am proud to call Gedling my home and I am proud it is a diverse community.

“This makes me even more determined to represent everybody in Gedling, whatever their background.

“I’m used to the rough and tumble of politics I’m not afraid of having debate, but I absolutely attacking someone personally is completely off bounds.

“Of course, it has been nice for people to reach out and what’s been most powerful is to hear from residents, even those who support different parties than my own. Quite a few of them were disgusted by it.”

In a tweet to Cllr Payne, Gedling Conservatives said: “This is unacceptable and we are sorry that you – and others – have had to read this.

“The member involved in this has been suspended from the Party and the matter is being investigated by central office. Our Party stands against all forms of discrimination and is open to all.”

The Conservative Party Code of Conduct states that party members “must not discriminate against, bully, harass or victimise any other person because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation”.

Mr Seaton told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Online debates always get heated but I regret the language I used and have since edited my comment.

“It was not directed at any individual or group I apologise for the offence caused.”

A Gedling borough-based eco group last week handed over a report to local councillors that is calling on them to respond urgently and with commitment to the climate and nature crisis.

Over 90 residents have contributed directly to the citizen-led Climate and Nature Report, that was commissioned following the Climate Convention held at Arnold Civic Centre in November last year.

“The recent flooding that has affected so many communities locally over the past two weeks shows clearly why reports like this are so important”, said David Eminson, one of the co-authors of the Report and a member of Gedling Climate Change Group that organised the convention.

“The increased rainfall and intensity we have experienced is what scientists have told us to expect as the planet hits unprecedented heating and here it is, for all to see”.

“This report captures a whole range of citizens’ ideas for tackling the climate and nature crisis. A crisis that’s on our doorstep here in Gedling as well as nationally and internationally.”

“There is clear support from local people and It is now time for the Borough and County Councils as well as our MPs to review these ideas and put them into practice wherever possible”.

The Report has been presented to Cllr John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council and it has also been sent to the Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Cllr Ben Bradley, as well as all local councillors and Tom Randall, MP for Gedling. 

Alongside controlling water and flooding, citizens highlighted the importance of rapidly weaning ourselves off the burning of fossil fuels and investing instead in renewables – wind, solar and nuclear – this would reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and reduce our energy costs – a win-win. Instead our government is giving licences for new oil and gas fields in the North Sea including the massive Rosebank field.

One of the most popular ideas to come out of the citizen-led event was around local housing – properly insulating all homes and putting solar panels on all appropriate roofs. This would save people significant amounts of money through reduced heating bills as well as cutting back on fossil fuel emissions of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to climate change. In a cost of living crisis this was seen as another win-win solution.

On the same day as participants were attending the conference in November, the planet’s temperature broke a new record high of 2.0^C above pre-industrial times and 2023 too has been the hottest year on record –  clearly demonstrating that we are in the midst of an emergency now and require an emergency response from our politicians.

Another pertinent request from contributors to the report was “we need politicians more visibly committed to the green agenda” and Gedling Climate Change Group are demanding that “all officers and councillors and MPs receive significant and on-going mandatory training on climate and nature issues – this would ensure their decisions would have beneficial impacts on tackling the crisis and not exacerbate it”.

Other ideas in the Report included improving cycling and walking provision together with good and cheap public transport to reduce dependency on car use – reducing air pollution on our streets and improving health and wellbeing.