A Conservative candidate who stood down after posting a series of offensive jokes online has been selected to run for election in May.

Ivan Lyons stood for election to Brighton and Hove City Council as a Tory candidate in Westbourne in the 2019 election but quit after jokes he made targeting Muslims, disabled people and people who are overweight were exposed.

The Brighton and Hove Conservatives at the time “unconditionally condemned the material” Mr Lyons had published online.

Despite this, Mr Lyons has been selected again by the Conservative Party as a candidate for the local elections in May, this time for the Westdene and Hove Park ward.

He will contest the ward along with current Tory councillor for Hove Park Samer Bagaeen and Dr Emma Hogan, who stood as the Conservative candidate in Brighton Pavilion at the last general election, placing third with 17.5 per cent of the vote.

Speaking about some of the issues in the area he hopes to represent, Mr Lyons said: “Here in Westdene, we have seen residents’ concerns ignored by the Green council, particularly around traffic and roads.

“Green councillors have stopped engaging with the Westdene and Withdean Local Action Team. This needs to change and I aim to bring the voice of Westdene residents to the city council.

“As a local businessman, I want to encourage employers to locate to our city. I am looking to improve our roads and infrastructure as the way forward. The council needs to stop increasing parking charges and reducing car parking spaces in the city.

“Cleaning up graffiti is high on my agenda. The council fines victims of graffiti, such as hard-working shopkeepers and businesses, but ignores graffiti blighting council property.”

Brighton and Hove Conservatives were contacted for comment.

Voters will go to the polls across Brighton and Hove and Sussex on May 4.

In a change to the way elections are run, people will need to bring a form of photo ID with them to polling stations on election day in order to cast their vote.