Bromley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Conservative leaders are facing criticism after allegedly ignoring bullying complaints against a Bromley councillor accused of “wicked” behaviour.
Shaun Slator, a Conservative councillor in Bromley who was called a “scumbag rape apologist” in 2023 because to comments he made on social media, is the target of the complaint. Slator’s actions were denounced as “dangerous and stupid” and “despicable.”
Slator was expelled from the Conservative Party as a result of the misogynistic incident, which made national newspaper headlines. However, he was re-admitted as a member around a year later.
Slator maintained his £35,000 annual “day job” as a publicly financed parliamentary assistant to Jackie Doyle-Price, the Conservative MP for Thurrock, during his suspension from the Tory Party.
Since then, it has come to light that Slator sent “unpleasant communications” to Abena Oppong-Asare, the Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, while he worked at Doyle-Price.
Due to Doyle-Price’s loss of her parliamentary seat following Labour’s victory in the 2024 General Election, Slator and almost a thousand other parliamentary assistants were laid off in July.
Since then, Slator is believed to have been heavily reliant on the £16,129 in taxpayer-funded council allowances he receives from Bromley. As a private landlord with houses in Blackpool and London, he does make some extra money.
Since 2018, Slator, a former IT salesperson, has worked for a Tory MP in the Houses of Parliament or for the Conservative Party.
“I can confidently say that by a country mile that he is the most toxic, hate-filled and unpleasant person I have ever come across,”
Vaughan wrote to Tory bosses.
“I have endured a number of stressful workplaces and have come across all types of people in life, but I was totally taken aback by how nasty and downright cruel he is. He is dismissive of everyone.”
“He was seeking to diminish me in order to bolster his own standing.”
Slator was re-admitted to Tory membership as if nothing had happened after serving as an independent councillor on Bromley Council’s back benches for a year while still working for Doyle-Price in Parliament.
Slator, a St Mary Cray ward council member, actively supported Bromley and Biggin Hill MP Peter Fortune’s election campaign last year. Despite the toxicity of the councilman, Fortune took care to remove any reference to Slator as his political agent from his social media accounts.
Despite this, Slator was appointed chairman of his local Conservative association. Colin Smith, the Tory council leader in Bromley, also increased Slator’s salary by a few thousand pounds by appointing him as vice-chairman of the executive, resources, and contracts committee.
“He has a general lack of empathy. I would have to take charge of correspondence or casework from constituents which was of a sensitive or personal nature, because I knew he lacked the basic personal skills of being able to exercise some compassion and tactfulness.”
Vaughan’s complaint offers a parliamentary insider’s view to Slator’s behaviour after he got caught out in 2023.
“I had heard him more than once use the ‘C’ word to describe women,”
Vaughan recalls.
Slator’s re-admission to the party was a mistake, according to Vaughan, and he is unfit to serve in Parliament or run for Tory council in the upcoming local elections. Vaughan informed the leaders of the Conservative Party, “I fear he will bully others.”
Both Slator and the Conservative Party were contacted for comment. Before publishing, neither gave a response.
According to Matthew Vaughan, Kemi Badenoch’s party leaders have not even acknowledged his complaint.
What actions has the Conservative Party taken about the complaint?
The Conservative Party has taken little to no visible action regarding the bullying complaint against Bromley Councillor Shaun Slator. Despite a formal complaint from a former administrative assistant detailing years of toxic behaviour, party officers reportedly ignored the allegations without acknowledgement or disquisition.
This pattern aligns with broader examinations of the Conservative Party’s complaints system, which has been described as under- resourced, deficiently trained, and lacking translucency. Reports and examinations have set up that complaints of demarcation, intimidation, and bullying within the party are frequently not taken seriously or duly addressed.
Leading numbers and advocacy groups have constantly called for reform of the party’s complaints process, but progress has been slow and inconsistent. In Slator’s case, the lack of party response has caused frustration and public commination, with several MPs calling out the toleration of his behaviour despite his controversial history and ongoing allegations.