Tory MP Bob Stewart has surrendered the Conservative whip while he considers an appeal against his conviction for a racially-aggravated public order offence.

The Beckenham MP has informed chief whip Simon Hart, according to a government source.

Stewart was found guilty of racially abusing an activist by telling him to “go back to Bahrain”.

He also told Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei “you’re taking money off my country, go away” during a confrontation outside the Foreign Office’s Lancaster House in Westminster last December.

Stewart had been attending an event hosted by the Bahraini embassy.

The 74-year-old former army officer – who was fined £600, with additional legal costs bringing the total to £1,435 – had told the court “I am not a racist” and said his “honour was at stake in front of a large number of ambassadors”.

The court heard the protester had shouted: “Bob Stewart, for how much did you sell yourself to the Bahraini regime?”

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Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats had called for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to act against the “totally unacceptable” behaviour of the Conservative backbencher.

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