A Conservative candidate will no longer stand in the upcoming local elections after posting a comment about the sexuality of the leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Cllr Kevin Guy | Photo © B&NES Council
Mark Stricklin was slated as the Conservative candidate in the Newbridge ward in Bath but, on Saturday 18th March, Bath Conservative Association posted on Twitter: “After careful consideration, Mark Stricklin and we have agreed that he should not proceed with standing for us in May’s elections.
“Mark’s a hard-working, passionate supporter of Bath. His efforts to hold the Lib Dem council and its leader to account will no doubt continue.”
The move comes after Mr Stricklin posted a comment on the social media site nextdoor, which was later deleted, about the openly gay leader of the council Kevin Guy.
Mr Stricklin linked to a claim that the average gay marriage only lasted two and a half years, and used this to suggest that Mr Guy would not be interested in staying in Bath long and would look to move somewhere else to attempt to become a Liberal Democrat MP.
Bath Conservatives announced on Twitter that Mr Stricklin would not be standing
Mr Stricklin said: “I am sorry if my post upset anyone.”
Mr Guy described the comment as “brazen.” He said: “I have got thick skin but its not uncommon for me to get homophobic abuse as leader. But that it’s a Tory candidate that’s saying it openly just shows how brazen they are.”
The comment also drew criticism from the former Conservative MP for Bath Ben Howlett, who is also openly gay.
Prior to the Conservative Association’s announcement, he said on Twitter: “As the first gay MP for Bath, I am disgusted to hear Mark Sticklin’s comments. The [Bath Conservative Association] that I used to know would have stripped him of his candidature. Culture wars must end!”
He said that he had written to the association to request Mr Stricklin’s deselection, and said: “Bath is one of the most inclusive communities in the world, ten years on from equal marriage, his astonishing comments have no place in modern British discourse.”
Also commenting before the decision for Mr Stricklin not to stand, Bath’s current Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse said: “It is appalling that Bath Conservatives have chosen a person who acts in such a way to stand for them.
“Their party ran out of constructive ideas long ago. They have nothing but venom and untruths to contribute to our local discourse.”
Mr Stricklin said on Twitter that he had learnt from the experience.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
