A CONSERVATIVE councillor who was suspended by his party after using ‘anti-Semitic’ language has been reinstated.

Cllr Robert Caserta had the whip removed in March after allegedly suggesting it could be difficult to speak to residents in the Sedgley Park area of Prestwich unless ‘you’re able to speak Hebrew’.

He has this week been reinstated to the party ‘with immediate effect’ even though a Conservative Party inquiry did not dispute the accuracy of the allegations.

Bury’s Tory leadership said in a statement that their own internal inquiry had come to the ‘same conclusion’ as the standards committee but they were ‘satisfied that all sanctions decided by the council’s standards panel have now been fulfilled by Cllr Caserta’.

Bury Labour Party condemned the move to welcome Cllr Caserta back to the fold saying his comments were ‘anti-Semitic and we see no way an investigation could conclude anything else, so why is the Tory party so willing to accept these statements?’.

Cllr Caserta, who represents Pilkington Park in Whitefield, appeared before a standards sub-committee in February, where he was found to have committed four breaches of the code of conduct for councillors.

He was reprimanded after a complaint was made about discriminatory questions and remarks made during an interview process to recruit a senior officer within Bury Council on July 14 last year.

It is understood that Cllr Caserta referred to litter ‘grot spots’ in Sedgley and remarked that it would be difficult communicating with residents ‘unless you are able to speak Hebrew’.

It is also understood that Cllr Caserta had already asked the interviewee if she would be able to carry out the role due to having two young children.

The standards hearing found he used ‘inappropriate language that was disrespectful and wholly inappropriate’.

Cllr Caserta was instructed to attend training on equality, diversity and inclusion and to write an ‘unequivocal written apology’ to the complainant.

Since March, he has sat on Bury Council, his party status listed as ‘unaligned’.

His seat was not up for election in the polls on May 6.

Suspending him in March, Christian Wakeford MP for Bury South and Cllr Nicholas Jones, Leader of Bury Conservatives, issued a joint statement condemning Cllr Caserta’s language saying the party ‘enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Jewish community’.

They said: “We consider anti-Semitism in all its forms abhorrent and will continue to call it out wherever it is found, including within our own party.

“Cllr Caserta’s comments were at best inappropriate and deeply offensive and at worst could be construed as anti-Semitic, so it is right that prompt action is taken.”

Cllr Jones’ statement this week was issued jointly with David Nuttall, chairman, Bury North and South Conservative Association.

It said: “Bury Conservative council group can confirm that the party whip has been restored to Cllr Robert Caserta following his suspension in March 2021.

“This follows an extensive internal inquiry which came to the same conclusion that Bury Council’s standard panel found.

“We are satisfied that all sanctions decided by the council’s standards panel have now been fulfilled by Cllr Caserta.

“He has also undertaken the Conservative Party’s diversity training.

“Bury Conservatives will make no further comment on this matter.”

A spokesman for Bury Labour Party, said: “The Bury Tories themselves said that Cllr Caserta’s comments were ‘at best inappropriate and deeply offensive and at worst could be construed as anti-Semitic’.

“How can they now welcome him back with open arms? Oh wait, it’s not election time.

“Cllr Caserta’s comments were anti-Semitic and we see no way an investigation could conclude anything else, so why is the Tory Party so willing to accept these statements?”

When asked for comment on his reinstatement, Cllr Caserta referred to the latest statement issued by his party leader.