Stuart Peach’s Comments on Migrants and Islam Lead to Investigation and Suspension by the Party

Stuart Peach, a Tory candidate in the upcoming local elections, has been suspended by the Conservative Party after making controversial comments on Facebook. The posts, which date back to 2019, included references to asylum seekers as “invaders” and a provocative question about whether “200,000 Englishmen” should march to Dover and “stone the migrants.”

Peach, who was running for a council seat in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, has sparked outrage with his statements, which also included remarks about an “invasion of Islam.” Despite the suspension, Peach will remain on the ballot as it is too late to remove his name from the election papers.

The local MP, Lee Anderson, who represents Ashfield and is the Conservative Party’s deputy chairman, expressed his disapproval of Peach’s comments, emphasising that such language is unacceptable within the party. This comes as the party also deals with another ongoing investigation involving Pembrokeshire councillor Andrew Edwards, who allegedly made racist remarks about Black people and slavery.

Peach’s history of controversial statements, including his criticism of refugee charities and his boycott of Euro 2020 games over the England team’s anti-racism stance, adds to the growing scrutiny of public figures within the Conservative Party. The party has committed to a full investigation of Peach’s conduct, distancing itself from the remarks that clash with its values.