FRESH calls have been made for Andrew Turner to apologise for homophobic comments said to have been made to students at Christ the King.
Four days on from the former Isle of Wight MP's decision to quit - after an outcry over describing homosexuality as 'dangerous to society'- he has yet to apologise publicly.
In a statement issued by the national Conservative HQ on Friday Mr Turner said it had been a privilege to serve the Island, but that it was time for 'a new generation to take up the mantle.'
His statement made no reference to the comments, said by Christ the King College politics students to have been made during a Q&A session at the school.
Labour candidate Julian Critchley said today (Tuesday): "While Tory central office condemned these remarks, it has been left to individual local Conservatives to speak up against a backdrop of silence from the Conservative Association. At the time of writing, they have issued no criticism of Mr Turner."
He added: "We had been told the Tories had moved on from the days of the nasty party. But maybe some just got better at hiding their true opinions. The local Tory party's silence on Andrew Turner's comments is shameful. They need immediately to distance themselves from his bigotry.
"Island Labour demands a public apology from Mr Turner, and an unequivocal condemnation of his remarks from the IW Conservative Association."
Isle of Wight Conservative Association Chairman Ian Ward posted a short statement on association's Facebook page, in which he claimed Mr Turner had apologised.
But he was forced to clarify that he had been referring to an apology made to him as branch chairman. He said the association did not support or agree with the comments in any way.
Isle of Wight Council Conservative group leader Dave Stewart said: "I could not condone in any way the comments by Andrew Turner and I feel he is right to stand down.
"Island Conservatives are fielding several candidates in the Isle of Wight Council elections who are gay, and this is most certainly not an opinion that either myself or anyone else in the team of Conservative council candidates would ever support.
"It is very disappointing to hear such comments from someone I know and it is a shame for him to end to his career in this way, but what he said was unacceptable.
"Moving forward, I can assure people on the Isle of Wight that Island Conservatives, led by me, are against this sort of intolerance."