A BY-ELECTION is being held to fill the role formerly held by a councillor who resigned after backlash following a ‘racist’ tweet.
Nick Harrington held the Cubbington and Stoneleigh seat on Warwick District Council but resigned from his position after a tweet he sent during the Eurovision Song Contest caused uproar. He also stepped down from his role as a magistrate.
The tweet he sent out – before deleting his account from the social media site – said: “Thanks Ireland. You can keep your ******* gypsies! Hard border coming folks!”
It is believed to have been sent after Irish judges failed to give any points to the UK for their entry .
Mr Harrington was quick to apologise “unreservedly” after the story made national headlines.
A by-election is called if two or more voters from the ward request one.
And now it is set to be held Thursday (October 5) with Richard Dickson representing the Lib Dems, Josh Payne for Labour, Chris Philpott for the Green Party and Trevor Wright representing Conservatives.
Mr Dickson said: “We’re taking this by-election seriously because the councillor had made totally inappropriate racial comments on social media..”
Visit www.warwickdc.gov.uk to find out more.
