A South London councillor who suggested an alleged rape victim was “likely” a sex worker has apologised for his comments, with the local council voting to condemn his actions.

Bromley Council has voted to condemn the comments of Councillor Shaun Slator, Independent  (previously Conservative) councillor for St Mary Cray ward, regarding a tweet he posted on December 31, 2022.

Cllr Slator replied to a tweet from the News Shopper publication reporting an alleged rape in Plumstead park.

In his reply, which has since been deleted, Cllr Slator wrote: “More likely that it’s a punter that didn’t pay.”

The topic was discussed at a full council meeting for Bromley Council on Monday, February 27.

At the start of the meeting, Cllr Slator publicly apologised for his comments, saying he intended to highlight the issue of women being exploited in Plumstead.

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He said: “I’m not ashamed to admit that I am fallible, and I have made a mistake. I now understand that with the privilege afforded to me as a councillor to better serve my community, comes a responsibility to reflect more deeply on what I say and post online.”

Conservative Councillor Colin Smith, leader of the council, said Cllr Slator remained a member of the Conservative Party after his “thoroughly thoughtless” comment, but had been suspended from the Bromley Conservative Group.

The council leader said at the meeting: “It’s the sort of thing that happens when people have brain freezes for a moment. It’s beyond the pale.

"To his credit, he has apologised, and that is one of the conditions I have laid down for Shaun’s potential rehabilitation in this group.

"Shaun also needs to undertake certain training to evidence to me that he has fully learned his lesson.”

Labour Councillor Alisa Igoe said she disagreed with the council leader’s view that Cllr Slator’s comments were a case of brain freeze, and wondered why it took the councillor so long to apologise.

In response, the council leader said he insisted Cllr Slator waited to apologise at full council.

Regarding points made by the Conservative Group to respond to Cllr Slator’s comments “proportionally”, Lib Dem Councillor Graeme Casey said: “I’m shocked that people are trying to make excuses for [Cllr Slator’s comments] and talk around it because all I am hearing is ‘but’, nothing but ‘but’. It’s inexcusable.

"I appreciate Councillor Slator’s apology tonight, and I do believe that it is meant wholeheartedly, but I’m very disappointed at what I have heard otherwise.”

At the end of the item, Bromley Council agreed to condemn the comments of Cllr Slator, and that he may be admitted back to the Conservative Group after attending appropriate training.

Cllr Slator said at the meeting that he had deactivated his Twitter account and has since enrolled himself on a course about interacting online.