Councillor disciplined for dubbing rival a 'shirt-lifter' Labour leader Clive Hart said the Labour group was conducting its own investigation into the matter. Coun Ken Gregory has been suspended by the Conservative group on Thanet council following his "hope you get Aids" message to Coun Worrow, who called it a "hate crime." Coun Worrow said "I received a telephone call from an inspector from Kent Police confirming that Councillor Ken Gregory is the person who committed a homophobic hate crime against me in the form of a voicemail. As Mr Gregory cannot possibly remain a member of the Conservative Party or a member of Thanet District Council after saying 'With a bit of luck you'll get aids', I feel that a caution should be punishment enough. My colleagues and I hope that this has not triggered a hate campaign. There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for that kind of behaviour towards anyone regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexuality and I expect a full apology at the next council meeting. Thanet Conservative leader Cllr Bob Bayford said: "It has come to my attention that Cllr Ken Gregory has received a police caution for an offence against another council member. The TDC Conservative Group demands the highest standards of conduct from its members and I have decided to suspend group membership from Cllr Gregory with immediate effect, pending further consideration of the situation. Cllr Worrow was elected to Thanet District Council in 2011 as a Conservative councillor for Birchington South, but in December he opted out of the group. He is now leader of the Independent group and chairman of the governance and audit committee.