A BOURNEMOUTH councillor has come under fire after branding UKIP a “racist party” in an email to a local resident.

Cllr Ben Grower has been accused of “stooping to a new low” after sending the controversial message to Bournemouth pensioner and UKIP supporter Alan Roberts.

The exchange came after Mr Roberts contacted the leader of the council, Cllr John Beesley, with concerns about fly-tipping in Talbot Village.

After being told the council could not prosecute in relation to the incident due to a lack of evidence, Mr Roberts said: “That's why I'll be voting UKIP. Protect the victims and not the perps. Get out of the EU, regain our country.”

Cllr Grower, who had been copied into the conversation, replied directly to Mr Roberts.

The email said: “As you now appear to be a supporter of a racist party i.e. UKIP please do not send me any further emails as they will be put in my junk mail folder and automatically deleted.”

Mr Roberts said he was shocked and offended by Cllr Grower’s “petty” reply.

The 65-year-old said: “I am certainly not a racist and I do not think UKIP is racist.

“My comments about regaining our country is in relation to the fact that we are getting more and more laws from the EU.”

Mr Roberts forwarded the email to Cllr Roger West, who said he has made a formal complaint to the council.

Cllr West, who recently defected to the Bournemouth Independent Alliance after he was suspended from the Liberal Democrats, said Cllr Grower’s comments were “completely unacceptable”.

Cllr Ben Grower, leader of the Labour group on Bournemouth council, told the Echo he stood by his comments.

“UKIP is a racist party,” he said.

“But I don’t believe that everyone that votes for UKIP is racist just like I don’t believe everyone who votes for Labour is socialist.

“I have nothing to apologise for. I just asked Mr Roberts to stop sending me emails."

Cllr Grower said the complaint was “unfounded” and he welcomed an investigation by the monitoring officer.

A spokesman from UKIP said Cllr Gower had stooped to “a new low”.

He said: “This is a serious breach of his responsibility to treat all people from Bournemouth in the same courteous and respectful manner, regardless of their race, colour or political persuasion.”

A spokesman from Bournemouth Borough Council said: “Any complaints received concerning a councillor will be considered in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct and related processes as set out in the council’s constitution.”