A MONMOUTHSHIRE councillor was suspended by the Conservative Party yesterday after allegations he made a racist remark about a job candidate.

It is claimed John Major from Caldicot, who represents the Mill ward, made the comment following a councillors’ meeting to appoint a new chief executive at Monmouthshire Council.

The complaint was filed by Labour county councillor, Armand Watts, who was present at the meeting of around ten other county councillors.

Mr Watts alleges following the interview with the third candidate of the day, who was of Asian origin, Mr Major said: “It’s a shame he’s black.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Conservative Party confirmed Mr Major had been suspended by Monmouthshire Council’s Conservative Group because of the claims, pending further investigations.

He said: “We take these sorts of allegations very seriously. Mr Major will be suspended while the matter is thoroughly investigated.”

Mr Major is the vice chairman of the council’s planning committee and also sits on the Strong Communities Select Committee and Co-ordinating Board Committee.

He is a former chairman of the county council.

Mr Watts said: “I think it was a completely inappropriate thing to say and has no place in Monmouthshire County Council.

“I’m angry and ashamed and glad he’s been suspended.”

Leader of the council Peter Fox said: "Following a complaint that one of the councillors of Monmouthshire County Council said something inappropriate in a confidential meeting the chief executive andf myself will be undertaking an investigation in the very near future to understand and find out what has been said.

"MCC does not tolerate and will not tolerate that which may be percieved or be racist in any way.

"I take this matter extremly seriously. We will be conducting that investigation next week."

Mr Major was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.