A COUNCIL has launched an investigation after a campaign group claimed a Conservative councillor had links with a far-right organisation.

Conservative councillor Tim Wills from Worthing Borough Council was accused by Hope Not Hate of sending private messages in a Telegram chat group for the nationalist and white supremacist organisation Patriotic Alternative.

Hope Not Hate claimed he joined a regional group chat for the fascist group on the encrypted messaging app in June this year.

A spokesman for the council said: "Worthing Borough Council has today instigated an investigation into a councillor following a complaint made under its code of conduct.

"The council's monitoring officer has been made aware of the statements made by Cllr Wills and is considering the matter under the code of conduct, in accordance with the council's adopted procedure.

"There will be no further comment while the process is ongoing."

The investigation follows an announcement from the Conservative Party that Cllr Wills has been suspended from the party pending the outcome of an investigation.

Patriotic Alternative, formed in 2019 by former director of publicity for the BNP Mark Collett, is described by Hope Not Hate as a "racial nationalist and fascist organisation that seeks the removal of ethnic minorities from the UK."

The group promote white nationalism, with some members supporting Holocaust denial, conspiracy theories around "white genocide" and claims that the LGBTQ+ community are a danger to children.

Cllr Wills has been approached for comment.

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