Birmingham councillor resigns following ‘offensive’ tweet
Rick Paynes’s resignation follows suspension by the Conservative Group
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00:00 A councillor has resigned his post following suspension over allegations he tweeted offensive content from a social media account used anonymously.
00:12 The opposition Tory bloc on Birmingham City Council stated that as soon as it became aware of the allegations, Rick Payne was suspended pending further investigation.
00:22 It added it could not comment further due to safeguarding issues.
00:26 The authority confirmed Mr Payne, who represented Kingstanding, had since resigned as a councillor.
00:32 A spokesman for the Conservative group said it had been made aware of allegations that Mr Payne had an anonymous Twitter account from which he tweeted offensive content.
00:42 The spokesperson explained that Mr Payne, a former soldier, had previously shared the absolute horrors of what military personnel had been through and the mental health scars it leaves.
00:53 They added, "We are reaching out to speak to him and to offer specialist veteran support."
00:59 support.