A CONSERVATIVE councillor has been suspended after making an "offensive" comment about football pundit Ian Wright.
Alexis McEvoy, a district councillor for Fawley, Blackfield & Langley described Mr Wright as a "typical black hypocrite" in a tweet which included a devil's face emoji.
The tweet, which was later deleted, was posted at the height of the recent controversy involving Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.
Following comments he made about the new anti-illegal immigration bill he was briefly suspended in a move that led to Mr Wright refusing to appear on Match of the Day in an act of solidarity.
Cllr McEvoy's tweet contrasted Mr Wright's reaction with an alleged lack of support for other pundits involved in previous disputes with their employers.
These include Saints legend Matt Le Tissier, who parted company with Sky Sports in 2020.
Now Cllr McEvoy has been suspended from the ruling Conservative group on New Forest District Council, days after saying she had suspended herself.
READ MORE: New Forest councillor Alexis McEvoy 'deeply sorry' over tweet about TV pundit Ian Wright
The council leader, Cllr Jill Cleary, said: "Following receipt of a number of complaints regarding a social media post made (and then deleted) by Councillor McEvoy on her personal social media account, Councillor McEvoy is suspended from the Conservative Group pending investigation."
Cllr McEvoy is also a county councillor for South Waterside.
In a statement she acknowledged her tweet caused offence, adding: "I did not mean it to do so and I am deeply sorry.
"I find racism in any form abhorrent, I have therefore reported myself to the monitoring officer at both Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council."
READ MORE: BBC issues statement after Gary Lineker returns to Match of the Day
Liberal Democrat David Harrison, a member of both authorities, referred to a remark made at a district council committee meeting 25 years ago by a member who has since died.
He said: "Some people present were shocked, others simply laughed. There was no live recording of meetings. Nothing appeared in the minutes.
"Looking back, somebody (including myself) should have reported it but this was before Nolan set out rules for standards in public life, so he probably wouldn't have got more than a telling-off.
"These days, one loose word can quickly go viral."
Reflecting on Cllr McEvoy's tweet he added: "Not everybody has properly adapted to technology or thought properly about the consequences of careless words that can deeply offend."
Fellow Liberal Democrat Malcolm Wade said she should face "robust" disciplinary action while Cllr Prad Bains, leader of the Independent Group at the county council has called for Cllr McEvoy to resign.
He said: "Views and tweets such as these are inexcusable.
"The public should be aware that any investigation or standards committee findings will not directly lead to the member being ‘sacked’, something that can’t happen, and which would undoubtedly occur in any other walk of life.
"This is why we as a group are calling for the member to do the honourable thing, which is to resign and issue a personal apology to Ian and his family."
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