A Conservative county councillor has been suspended with immediate effect after pictures emerged which appear to show him attending a rally as part of an openly-fascist group.

Cllr Andy Weatherhead, who represents Hythe West, was previously a senior officer for the far-right New British Union (NBU), according to campaigners at Hope Not Hate.

This morning, the Kent Tory party whip Cllr Dylan Jeffrey confirmed that Cllr Weatherhead has been suspended from the Conservative group and by the national party.

Cllr Jeffrey told KentOnline an inquiry was underway into the allegations and to establish whether he had breached any party rules.

If the claims are found to be accurate, it is likely that he will be expelled.

It comes after Hope Not Hate published a picture yesterday which they say shows Cllr Weatherhead at the NBU’s inaugural conference in October 2013.

The photo includes symbolism such as a lightning bolt within a circle. This symbol was used by the British Union of Fascists - also known as the Blackshirts - formed by Oswald Mosley in 1932.

Cllr Weatherhead is also pictured in similar garb in November 2013 when he was snapped at a rally outside the Greek Embassy in London. Hope Not Hate says the demo was in support of the neo-fascist Golden Dawn movement.

His suspension comes after Labour councillors demanded Kent Conservatives withdraw the whip in light of the claims.

Cllr Lauren Sullivan, the Labour group leader on Kent County Council (KCC), said: "Kent Tories have questions to answer about how a man with such abhorrent views was allowed to stand."

She has written to KCC leader Roger Gough outlining her concerns and asking what action will be taken.

Folkestone Labour councillor Jacqueline Meade added: "Just weeks after we suffered a far-right terrorist attack on an immigration centre in Dover we find out that we have people on the KCC benches who share this hate-filled ideology.

"Councillors should be people who seek to unite not divide communities."

The investigation into Cllr Weatherhead is expected to be conducted jointly by the county council Conservative group and the national party board.

Until the matter is resolved, he is permitted to sit on committees but as an independent. The councillor had been due to attend a meeting at County Hall this morning but was not present.

He was elected to the Hythe West seat in May 2021 with 49% of the vote.

Cllr Weatherhead has been contacted for comment.