A Conservative chairman has been pressured to resign after he called for Liberal Democrats to be “exterminated”.

Brian Cooke, chairman of Beckenham Conservative Association, said in a now-deleted tweet that Lib Dems “need exterminating” during what has been described as an “unacceptable attack”.

Replying to Councillor Will Harmer, who had said Mr Cooke was doing a disservice to Conservatives who respect opposition, he said: “No Chance. They need exterminating. Even @UKLabour agree. Did you hear the clock house speech? I can’t stand dishonest campaigns. You heard the lies at the Shortlands Hustings too.”

Mr Cooke has since faced a backlash from opposition campaigners who are calling on the chairman to resign.

Julie Ireland, a Lib Dem campaigner in Bromley, said that the election was fought fairly and passionately by all parties, aside from Mr Cooke, who accused the party of constantly lying.

She said: “To ask for people – or a party that is made up of people – to be exterminated is completely unacceptable from anyone, but particularly from someone in his position.

“I am grateful to the people from other parties who have condemned it, including the Conservatives, and now call on his party to demand his resignation.”

Conservative councillors have also condemned Mr Cooke’s language on Twitter.

Gareth Allatt, councillor for Plaistow & Sundridge, wrote: “The word exterminate when applied to people is not just offensive but downright unacceptable.”

Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, added: “However strongly one feels, this is not appropriate language in politics or anywhere else.”

Mr Cooke has deleted the tweet, and said online that it was not aimed at people, but rather the party, adding that that was “very different.”

Mr Cooke’s wife, councillor Mary Cooke, also caused controversy on social media after she suggested 20mph zones would not help with road safety.

Following the publication of this story, Mr Cooke offered the following statement: 

"In the recent Bromley Borough Elections the local LibDems ran a thoroughly dishonest and untruthful campaign. This was condemned by both Local Labour candidates and Conservatives.

"In both 2014 and 2018 the electorate saw through this awful campaigning and the LibDems achieved zero council seats on both occasions.

"Whilst on reflection I regretted the choice of the word exterminate, and therefore deleted the tweet almost immediately.  It was clear, however, that it didn’t apply to individuals but to the local party.

"One of the dictionary definitions of “exterminate” is to “expel”, another is “drive out” or “get rid off”.

"Both Labour and the Conservatives ran honest campaigns and if local LibDems can’t or won’t then I do believe it’s time to expel or drive them out as the local electorate have, wisely, done on two successive occasions."