CONSERVATIVES have rounded on a former activist who yesterday announced his resignation as a leading official in the local Tory organisation - by saying he has fabricated his position and his relevance within the local party.

Thurrock Nub News reported on the 'resignation' yesterday (Thursday, 9 December) live on BBC Radio Essex by Charlie Sansom, who announced he was standing down as the chair of South Basildon Conservatives because he was 'sick to his stomach' of the party's leadership over Covid-19.

However, today local Conservatives had rubbished Mr Sansom's views and says he is not representative of the local party and does not reflect the opinion of the majority of its members.

Basildon councillor Craig Rimmer spoke to Thurrock Nub News this morning to say Mr Sansom had overegged his status, adding: "He was a branch chairman which is a much lower position. He was SBET representative up until February 2021 but then was replaced.

"Unfortunately Charlie Sansom has misrepresented himself and lied about the position he held allowing media outlets to believe that he was an association or group chairman when he was not. His views in no way represent those of local Conservatives.

"He was under investigation for anti-vax comments and jumped before he was pushed."