Apology over skin colour comment

Councillor Roger Walkden said he was not racist and meant no offence

A Conservative politician who posted a comment about refugees' skin colour on the internet has apologised and said he is not racist.

Dover district councillor Roger Walkden put a joke on the Dover Forum website.

A complaint was made to Conservative leader David Cameron's office. Mr Walkden said he meant no offence.

Tony Fuller, from the Kent Refugee Action Network, said he was surprised a councillor had made a posting which could offend many people.

The councillor, who represents the Maxton, Elms Vale and Priory ward of Dover, said: "I did not expect any offence to be caused because no offence was meant.

'Simple joke'

"I'm not a racist person, there is no racist bone in my body."

He added: "As soon as one complaint was made, I apologised unreservedly for any offence the joke had caused.

"Offence was not the reason for the posting, it was a simple joke."

Mr Fuller said: "These are views unacceptable in modern Britain.

"He was conveying a joke that could have racist implications and he should at least realise that. Clearly, it was lacking judgment."

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: "The Conservative Party does not condone racism in any form.

"Councillor Walkden has apologised unreservedly for any offence his comments have caused and asked for them to be removed from the website."