Tory group chairman resigns amid bullying claims
The chairman of a county Conservative Association has resigned after claiming he has been a victim of "bullying and homophobia".
Gavin Chambers, chairman of the Southend East and Rochford Conservative group, said his complaints were being investigated by party campaign headquarters.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he was leaving with "dignity".
Mr Chambers said he was looking forward his "next chapter".
He said that the party's campaign headquarters had been "very supportive" in recognising the "potential effects of such spiteful behaviour had on an individual’s health".
“I stood down at this week’s annual meeting with dignity and a clear record," he said.
'Confidential'
A spokesman for the party said: "The Conservative Party has an established code of conduct and formal processes where complaints can be made in confidence.
"This process is rightly confidential."
'Election candidates'
Conservative Sir James Duddridge has represented Rochford and Southend East since 2005.
He has announced that he will stand down at the 4 July general election.
Local party officials say a Conservative candidate will be in place soon.
Bayo Alaba, Labour’s candidate, has begun campaigning locally ahead of the election.
Other candidates already selected are James Allen (Lib Dem), Les Lilly (Reform UK) and Simon Cross (Green).
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