James Malliff, pictured, made the comments via micro-blogging
site Twitter in response to David Cameron's pro-gay speech at the
annual party conference, last week.
Malliff, a Cabinet member for Big Society and Localism, disagreed
with Cameron's pledge to achieve marriage equality, writing: "There
is no doubt the PM is wrong on this issue. We may as well legalise
marriage with animals, crude I concede but no apology."
As reported on DIVA yesterday, he quickly deleted the tweet, but
not before screen grabs were taken and shown to the Evening
Standard yesterday.
Speaking to the ES, a party spokesman said: "These comments are
completely unacceptable. Councillor Malliff's local party
association has suspended him with immediate effect."
The rapid, zero-tolerance response by party leaders has been
praised by members of the gay community.
Cllr Malliff has since apologised, saying: "I respect the rights
of people to hold different views to my own. It was not an anti-gay
statement, more a comment about where we draw the line."
