TWO Tories standing in May’s council election in Durham have been suspended by the party over racist and Islamophobic social media posts. 

The Conservative Party is investigating Durham County Council candidates Terry Batson and Laura Rides over posts which anti-racism campaigners have described as an “outrageous attack on Muslim and BAME communities.”

Mr Batson, standing in the Tow Law ward, shared an image of a golliwog on Facebook, while another post launched an offensive diatribe at a black Labour activist, referring to “coloured citizens.”