A veteran councillor today vowed to carry on representing the people - despite being thrown out of the Labour Party for the next three years.

Roy Smith

Roy Smith, 78, who represents the Golf Green ward on Tendring Council and Clacton West on Essex County Council, was suspended after a hearing yesterday.

He was summoned to appear before a panel of the national Labour Party at the Esplanade Hotel on Clacton seafront.

Although he was cleared of a number of allegations made against him, it was found proved he had undermined colleagues' campaigns at the General Election and county council elections.

Mr Smith said he would now consider his future as far as the Labour Party was concerned and decide whether to quit the group over the next 24 hours.

"Whatever happens I will continue to put people first and will remain as a Tendring and Essex councillor," he said. "I have no intention of resigning my position."

Mr Smith has served the Labour Party for more than 30 years, and in 1991 received a national award of merit for outstanding service to the party.

He said at yesterday's hearing he had been accused of assaulting fellow Golf Green Labour councillor Maurice Alexander.

He was also accused of making racist remarks at a Tendring Council meeting. Both were not found proved.

Peter Watt, regional director for Labour East, said the hearing had been an internal matter, adding: "Mr Smith has been suspended from membership for three years. We feel that was the right decision."

Published Tuesday, February 26, 2002