Councillor quits Conservatives after ‘foolish’ comments spark race row

John Cherry claimed Pakistani children would fail to “rise to the top”, that some nationalities were “uncertain” what hard work was about and that it would create a “sexual inferno” if a South London academy opened an Eton-style boarding school in the West Sussex countryside.

But after the Conservative Party launched plans to suspend or expel him he apologised and resigned. He said: “My remarks about Durand Academy, as reported in the Mail on Sunday today, were plainly wrong. They were thoughtless and extremely foolish. I unreservedly apologise and withdraw them. I very much regret the distress this must have caused.”

The plans of the Durand Academy, in Stockwell, south London, are opposed by people living near the currently disused St Cuthman’s boarding school in Stedham, West Sussex.

Mr Cherry said: “Ninety-seven per cent of pupils will be black or Asian. It depends what type of Asian. If they’re Chinese they’ll rise to the top. If they’re Indian they’ll rise to the top. If they’re Pakistani they won’t.

“There are certain nationalities where hard work is highly valued. There are certain nationalities where they are uncertain what this hard work is all about.

“If the children are not allowed out of the site then it will make them want to escape into the forest – it will be a sexual volcano.”

The former Wellington pupil also suggested that such children would be traumatised by being taken out of their “natural surroundings”.