THE leader of Bournemouth Council says he has no idea why one of his Conservative colleagues has been suspended by the national party.

Cllr Douglas Spencer was removed from chairmanship of the Bournemouth West Conservative Association following a complaint from a member in June.

The nature of the complaint has not been made public.

His suspension means he has been excluded from the Conservative group of the council and removed from membership of the cabinet for housing.

Mr Spencer has pledged to issue a statement to the press as soon as the Conservative National Central Board has reached a decision on his political future. It is expected to make its ruling in early September.

Cllr Peter Charon, who took over the council leadership following the resignation of Cllr Stephen MacLoughlin – himself the subject of a local investigation into his use of a council-owned laptop computer to access pornography – told the Echo he was “absolutely in the dark” about Mr Spencer’s suspension.

“I don’t know what is going on. I simply don’t know and can’t comment. I have not been informed of anything by central office,” he said.

“It’s down to central office to deal with this matter. They started the investigation; it is right that they conclude it as quickly as possible. That is important to everyone.”

Earlier this year, one of Westbourne and West Cliff’s councillors, Richard Powell, admitted sending racist text messages. Another, deputy council leader John Beesley, is under investigation into the wording he used in making declarations of interest relating to a former councillor and planning consultant.

The previous Bournemouth West MP, Sir John Butterfill, was taped by an undercover reporter saying he was likely to be offered a peerage and suggesting he could set up meetings with government leaders for money.

The association’s own website says: “Being a member of Bournemouth West Conservatives and Conor Burns MP means that you have joined the most open and democratic political party in Britain.”