King Lawal: Pride 'is sin' councillor exonerated by Tory panel

King Lawal was suspended by his local party but then reinstated

A councillor suspended after calling Pride a sin has been exonerated by the Conservative party, a charity says.

Christian Concern said a six-month investigation concluded King Lawal's social media post criticising the LGBTQ+ movement was not "homophobic".

The charity said Mr Lawal, of Christian faith, had his life "torn apart" over the tweet, which has since been deleted.

The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.

Mr Lawal's post on Twitter, now known as X, was published during Pride month and read: "When did Pride become a thing to celebrate.

"Because of Pride Satan fell as an arch Angel. Pride is not a virtue but a Sin."

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A news release issued by Christian Concern said a Conservative Party disciplinary sub-committee rejected a complaint following a six-month investigation.

It said a written judgement sent to Mr Lawal found an allegation he had "misused or abused social media" guidelines was "not proven".

Concluding its decision, the panel said: "The Panel recognises that [Mr Lawal's] posts are a representation of his religious beliefs, which he is free and entitled to hold.

"Accordingly, the posts, whilst they may be offensive to some, would on balance not to be considered by a reasonable and fair-minded observer to be discriminatory or homophobic per se."

Mr Lawal said he was "appalled" that he was subjected to an investigation over his social media post

Mr Lawal, 31, who represents Wellingborough's Brickhill and Queensway ward, previously sought to clarify the intention behind his post, saying: "When Christians refer to 'sin' or 'sinners' we are speaking of ourselves."

The North Northamptonshire councillor has since been reinstated and was elected chairman of North Northamptonshire Council's Health Scrutiny Panel last month, despite objections from a number of fellow councillors.

Responding to the Conservative Party panel's decision, Mr Lawal said: "I appreciate the conclusions of the panel, but I am appalled that I was subjected to this investigation in the first place.

"For over six months I have had the cloud of this investigation hanging over me, even when the local group reinstated me."