The Conservatives’ North Deal district and town councillor Bob Frost is being deselected by his party, the Mercury understands.

This is the latest controversy to beset the former Manwood’s school teacher, whose social media remarks last year about Labour voters living “on a diet of lard and fags” and that his shares in Israeli arms trade had “gone up by 6%”, were heavily criticised.

A senior Conservative Party source told the Mercury that the decision was made by an interview panel of five at the Dover and Deal association’s office in The Strand in Walmer on Wednesday, December 17.

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.

The Mercury understands the vote was 3-2 to deselect Cllr Frost. Other councillors were also interviewed.

Last year, Labour’s parliamentary candidate Clair Hawkins said Cllr Frost’s tweets were “insensitive, inappropriate and offensive”.

He replied, saying “Was your humour bypass on the NHS or did you go private? Calm down dear”, adding “They just don’t get irony.”

During the 2011 London riots he alluded to “jungle bunnies” on Facebook, was suspended from the Conservative Party but was later cleared of wrongdoing. The row also meant he left his job at Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Sandwich.

Cllr Frost, who is not commenting on the matter, is believed to be very unhappy about the way the process is being handled by his party. The Mercury understands there is now likely to be an appeal.

Dover & Deal’s Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke and Cllr Paul Watkins, leader of the Tory-controlled district council, both said they had not been informed of the decision.

Ms Hawkins told the Mercury: “Considering Cllr Frost’s previous comments I’m not surprised.”

Constituency party chairman Keith Single has not commented.