THURROCK MP Jackie Doyle-Price has waded into the Deputy Mayor controversy following last night’s council meeting by tweeting about the vote and repeatedly using the hashtag #everydayracism.

Conservative Councillor Tunde Ojetola lost a vote to be Deputy Mayor which saw Labour nominee Cathy Kent following support from  Ukip and Labour.

Ms Doyle–Price tweeted: “Take the view that anyone who has served as deputy Mayor should become Mayor whatever party. Bad luck to Tunde. #everydayracism.”

She added: “Shame on Thurrock Labour tonight. Chose political opportunism over doing the right thing. Be happy with your bedfellows #everydayracism.”

Fellow Tory Councillor Mark Coxshall went as far as to accuse his Ukip counterparts of racism.

He said: “I think it’s a disgrace that Ukip can call the shots like this. It happened in 2011 as well to Tunde. It’s because Tunde is black, it’s a disgrace.”

The accusations come after Conservatives were left fuming that a secret ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ to have Mr Ojetola as Deputy Mayor had been broken at the last minute.

Conservative leader Rob Gledhill said after the meeting that Ukip and Labour had broken a ‘gentleman’s agreement’.

He said: “We had a gentleman’s agreement and they’ve gone back on that. As far as I’m concerned when we made that agreement that was it. I’m fuming.”

Shortly after Mrs Kent was put forward at the meeting, Mr Coxshall said: “Twenty minutes ago there was no other nomination, so something has just happened here and it’s disgusting.”