Del Thomas’s Facebook page, 1527hrs, today.
In a hastily-deleted tweet, Conservative candidate Del Thomas compares gay people to Paedophiles.
Del Thomas, in his thirties, is a street pastor, Tory campaigner, and primary school teacher.
He stood for election in Victoria ward, Southend, in 2012, losing to Labour Councillor Ian Gilbert. It is unknown whether he intends to stand again in 2014.
His remarks have caused outrage on both Facebook and Twitter, with members of the public responding with outrage. One fellow Tory campaigner, Lucy Cox, wrote:
“You are making a comparison with two people who love each other and want to make a lifelong commitment to each other, to someone who abuses children?! And you are a teacher? I am pleased you will be nowhere near mine.”
UPDATE: 5th February. Dels comments were used as an example of homophobia in politics on the influential Left Foot Forward blog, with a link back to this blog post. See the Left Foot Forward article here.
Jack Monroe. Twitter: @MsJackMonroe