East Grinstead councillor booted from Tory university post

East Grinstead town councillor Charles Amos was elected as president of the King’s College London Conservative Association last month.

But the second-year political economy student was removed from his post on Monday in light of recent remarks which “shook the association to its core”, it said.

Earlier this month Cllr Amos told student website The Tab: “Feminism today is totally different. It’s about ensuring economic and social equality between men and women and I’m totally opposed to that.”

Weeks before he told The Tab benefit payments for single parents “have encouraged divorce with worse results, in many cases, for the children”.

And in an interview on internet show Purple Tories, the councillor said: “If people want to come along and make racist comments at a meeting, then I think they have every right to do so.”

Cllr Amos was also criticised for telling student newspaper Roar News: “If individuals want to dissociate themselves in private covenant communities... on ethnic grounds, then that is their prerogative and they can do as they please.”

The King's College London Conservative Association calls itself the biggest political society in the UK. Photo: David Illif. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0

The King’s College London Conservative Association said his statements had caused “widespread Conservative outcry”.

It said his views “caused insult” to members and did not represent the association.

“The committee is not willing to defend these comments and felt a failure to act would be tantamount to condonement (sic),” a spokesman said.

“It no longer suffices to simply state that his statements do not represent the views of the wider society.”

But speaking to The Argus Cllr Amos said he stood by all of his comments.

“I don’t think anyone outside of progressive universities would find what I’ve said controversial,” he said.

“The majority of people in this country don’t classify themselves as feminists. That includes women.

“If figures such as myself can be removed from a presidency, there’s no possibility of public debate at universities.

“They’re creating a safe space and I’m totally against that.

“Provided you don’t incite violence you should be able to say whatever you like.”

Cllr Amos was featured as a 15-year-old Ukip activist in a 2015 documentary on the party. Photo: Channel 4

Cllr Amos was originally a prominent figure in Ukip’s youth wing Young Independence. In 2015 he was featured in a Channel 4 documentary as 15-year-old activist for the party.

He was elected to East Grinstead Town Council last year as a Conservative candidate.

But he was thrown out of the party months later after he objected to a Tory-backed council tax increase.

He now calls himself an Independent Conservative.

Cllr Amos is also the Taxpayers’ Alliance’s Sussex co-ordinator.

The King’s College London Conservative Association calls itself the “largest and most active political society in the UK”.

Last academic year it hosted many Conservative MPs including Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan.