Swanley town council is in turmoil this week as the UK’s first Nepalese mayor quit amid racism claims - closely followed by his deputy, who resigned after an allegation of sexual harassment was upheld by councillors.

Cllr Shanker Gaire stepped down as mayor during a meeting of the town council last week claiming his colleagues’ attitude towards him had changed since the Brexit vote on June 23.

On Monday, deputy mayor Cllr Tony Searles followed suit after an allegation of harassment towards a woman was upheld by the council’s select committee, although he claims he resigned in support of Cllr Gaire and denies the claims.

Fellow Tory councillors had already voted unanimously to withdraw Cllr Searles from his post as Conservative whip at a meeting on October 26 following an investigation into claims of both sexual harassment and disability discrimination.

Cllr Gaire also remains a councillor but he and his wife, Cllr Laxmi Gaire, who resigned as mayoress, will both quit the Conservatives to become independents.

Speaking at the full council meeting last week, he reportedly accused fellow councillors of “disregarding and disrespecting” him. He also claimed that he was “merely a puppet in the hands of a few who are controlling and intimidating”.

He added: “I thought that Brexit had created a barrier mainly for Europeans but it seems that this spirit was extended beyond Europe and created a barrier for the only Nepalese elected as mayor in the history of the United Kingdom.”

The departures have left other councillors desperately trying to find replacements, with former mayors Cllrs Laurence Ball and Leslie Dyball among the contenders to fill the roles ahead of a meeting on Wednesday night.

Council leader Cllr Victor Southern said there had been no choice but to dismiss Cllr Searles as whip and accepted that he felt he could no longer continue as deputy mayor.

“The act of racism is a criminal offence and I do not propose to be regarded as a criminal" Cllr Victor Southern

However, he said the loss of Cllr Gaire was down to allegations that were “completely, utterly and in every conceivable way” untrue.

He said: “What got into his mind I really do not know. On May 17, the councillors here unanimously elected Cllr Gaire to be the mayor.

“On June 23, just five weeks later, along comes Brexit and he believes that changed the attitude of councillors towards him.

“The act of racism is a criminal offence and I do not propose to be regarded as a criminal. If these allegations continue, I will seriously be considering legal action.”

Cllr Southern claimed that Cllr Gaire had failed to understand that being mayor was a ceremonial role rather than an executive one, meaning that he had no decision making power.

Speaking on behalf of Cllr Searles, a spokesman for Maidstone legal firm Whitehead Monckton said: “Our client denied, and denies, all allegations made against him which he views with no basis whatsoever.

“Our client considers that he has been the victim of bullying in this whole affair.”

The claim was of disability discrimination was rejected and Cllr Searles will continue in his role as an elected councillor. His position as the portfolio holder for finance at Sevenoaks council is also unaffected.

It is the latest controversy involving Cllr Searles who rented out a converted garage at his home in Hextable for eight years without planning permission, which was finally granted in September - after he had earned up to £60,000 over the period.

Responding to the week’s drama, Labour’s Cllr Mike Hogg said there was “something radically amiss with the Tory group on Swanley council”.

“Cllr Gaires in his resignation speech stressed that he was feeling increasingly ignored and isolated by his Conservative colleagues. He was not given any credit for his initiatives and his opinion on a range of policy matters was never sought.

“At the meeting, I saw him as a very bitter man, who was being used as a token and not as a full member of the ruling group. The contribution that he could have made to the town as a mayor from the Asian community has been thrown away.”