August 9, 2019 2.56 pm This story is over 55 months old

Boston Conservative councillor suspended following complaints

An investigation is taking place into the complaint
Lincolnshire county councillor Paula Cooper. Photo: LCC

A Boston councillor has been suspended from the Conservative party amid an internal investigation, it has been confirmed.

It is understood Lincolnshire County Councillor for Boston West Paula Cooper has had her membership of the party suspended due to a complaint after recent articles in the media.

Boston and Skegness Conservative Association chairman Steve Kirk said: “Following a complaint received Paula Cooper has had her membership of the Conservative Party suspended.

“This suspension will last as long as is necessary for the party to carry out a full investigation and decide what course of action to take.

“As Boston and Skegness Association Chairman it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment whilst this investigation is ongoing.”

The Conservative party HQ  also refused to comment further on the investigation,

A spokesman said: “Our complaints process is confidential and we do not comment on ongoing cases.”

Photos in July appeared to show Councillor Paula Cooper doing crosswords, however, she denied the allegation. Photo: Toni Bingham

It is unclear which articles the complaint refers to, however, Councillor Cooper has been the subject of a number of complaints to local media recently.

She made headlines after being spotted with crosswords and mobile phone in a council meeting at the beginning of July.

She denied the allegations, saying she kept crosswords in her folder to complete outside of meetings and that she had rejected a number of calls from her son until a break in proceedings when she had called him back outside of the council chamber.

Later in the month however, complaints were then made when it was revealed in a BBC News article on Brexit that she sold Golliwog dolls in her museum.

Councillor Cooper told reporters that the dolls were”nostalgic” and “reflective of the time” and that she had only received one complaint about them.

Attempts have been made to contact Councillor Cooper for comment.

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