25/06/2003

Sanders faces crunch council vote

The political future of disgraced Conservative Party councillor, Neville Sanders was in the balance today on the eve of a crunch meeting of Peterborough council on Wednesday evening.

Mr Sanders, 72, was suspended from the party last week following remarks he made about the suicide of a Royal Irish Regiment soldier in Co Armagh in 2001.

Mr Sanders also caused anger throughout Northern Ireland saying he was fed up paying taxes to cover for the "lazy Irish".

Eight fellow Conservative colleagues have already broken party ranks saying they will not vote for their council leader at tonight's crunch vote.

Last night they walked out of a Conservative group meeting in the Town Hall after Mr Sanders again refused to step down over his remarks.

(MB)

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