A councillor has issued an apology after he was suspended from the Conservative Party over "Islamophobic" Facebook posts.

Paul Messenger, who represents Ramsgate on the County Council, is facing an inquiry over the posts made on Facebook several years ago - which suggest Muslim communities pose a greater threat than the IRA.

Cllr Messenger has now admitted he did post offensive statements about Muslims, and apologised for his actions.

He said: "I want to apologise unreservedly for the historic Islamophobia that I put up on social media. They are no longer my views and never should have been my views in the first place.

"The posts are repellent and ignorant. And they are just the kind of views extreme Right-Wing views I campaigned against so hard in the 2016 referendum. I don’t believe anyone’s ethnicity or religion should ever be used for political purposes. Or to question anyone’s full inclusion in British society and culture.

"So, it is absolutely unforgiveable that I didn’t delete these posts from my timeline. And it is equally unforgiveable that I didn’t publicly refute them. I do so now.

"But, over and above this general apology, I need to say sorry to two groups of people in particular.

"The posts are repellent and ignorant..." Paul Messenger

"First, the Muslim community of the UK. Any of you who have met me since I became a KCC councillor will know I respect your religion and I respect each and every one of you as individuals. So, I hope the Muslim community will grant me the privilege of apologising to you directly for my previously abhorrent views.

"I also need to apologise to the Conservative Associations of Thanet. I have brought our party into disrepute. So, I fully accept my suspension and any further disciplinary action which may follow. And, of course, I am standing down as a candidate for TDC councillor in Margate Central with immediate effect.

"On a more personal note, I am mortified by the offence and distress I have caused. To my friends, to my family and especially to my wife. I hope to earn their forgiveness. And to show them and everyone else in Thanet who I am now: a liberal, One-Nation Conservative who thinks any kind of Islamophobia or even the slightest anti-Muslim prejudice has no place in our party, our community or our country."

One post, attributed to Cllr Messenger's Facebook page, said: “Let's not fool ourselves here; The Muslim Communities living in Britain would like to see the whole country Muslim. Whether this is achieved by violent or stealth - they would prefer this - it’s natural and you could argue within their rights to do this.

"After some considerable thought I have come up with this suggestion - given that MI5 have to commit considerable resources Into the protection and prevention of ‘home grown’ Islamic threat far more than when the IRA were doing their worst to us, then I believe the peaceful British Islamic Society should pay for this extra cost.”

Another post apparently made by Mr Messenger in 2014 read: “My fear is that are we sponsoring through child benefit and other welfare payments large Muslim families that twenty years on there will be enough of them to launch an Isil type takeover.”

A spokesperson for the Kent Anti-Racism Network claimed that there have been complaints about Mr Messenger’s behaviour in the past but these have been ignored.

They said: “The Conservative former cabinet minister Baroness Warsi has said her party has 'turned a blind eye' to prejudice and become 'institutionally Islamophobic'. We believe this is true and people like Paul Messenger are proof of this.”

He is also a candidate in the forthcoming Thanet District Council election in May where he is standing in Margate. However, his suspension means that he will not to be able to contest the election and will have to sit as an independent until the investigation is resolved.

Labour county councillor Karen Constantine: "It seems his late admission of 'guilt' and fulsome apology has been only been prompted by irrefutable evidence that he did make these repugnant statements. That also is a serious error of judgment. I would urge him again to consider his suitability for public office and to reflect on the Nolan principles."

The news follows the revelation that the conservative leader of Swale Borough Council, Cllr Andrew Bowles, had also been suspended over a tweet in which he supported the right of the leader of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson to outline his controversial views on social media.

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ANALYSIS

Political Editor Paul Francis

If there is one thing the Conservative party is desperate to avoid - other than not knowing what will happen with Brexit - it is facing accusations of Islamophobia.

That fear may explain the abrupt U-turn by the county councillor Paul Messenger who, within the space of less than 24 hours, had gone from vehemently denying that he was responsible for racist posts on his Facebook page to a comprehensive apology and admission of guilt.

The fulsome apology came just 12 hours or so after he told me that there were people out to destroy him. He could not have been more emphatic in denying he had written the posts in question.

Overnight, however, he seemed suddenly to have overcome his selective amnesia.

His lengthy apology was full of remorse and we were informed that he was now a reformed character and was rehabilitated as a liberal, One Nation Conservative.

Cynics might well ask if the offensive posts had not been discovered whether he would have made such a “mea culpa”.

It is unlikely to be enough to save his political career and he is unlikely to be readmitted to the party. There may also be questions over his future as a county councillor - opposition parties have already called on him to consider his suitability for public office.