The Conservative Association has broken its silence over moves to deselect North Deal district and town councillor Bob Frost.

Constituency party chairman Keith Single this week told the Mercury: “Our councillor selection process is ongoing, so this is all merely rumour and speculation.”

He added: “Until the process is complete it wouldn’t be right or proper for the local Conservative Association to comment on the status of any one particular applicant.”

Leaked information from a senior Conservative Party source to the Mercury suggests the party has moved to deselect Cllr Frost. The Mercury understands members of a party interview panel of five, meeting at the Dover and Deal association’s office in The Strand in Walmer on Wednesday, December 17, voted 3-2 to deselect the controversial councillor.

Panellists are understood to have included association chairman Keith Single, agent Robert Nodding, town councillor and former Deal mayor Wayne Elliott and former Deal county councillor Kit Smith.

Last year the former Manwood’s school teacher tweeted about Labour voters living “on a diet of lard and fags”, a remark which was heavily criticised.

Cllr Frost is believed to be very unhappy about the way the process is being handled by his party. But he said this week: “To quote Mark Twain, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

The Mercury understands an appeal may have already begun, which could result in the association retracting its decision.