A Kent MP has been accused of acting irresponsibly after sarcastically suggesting to tear down a bust of a Roman emperor.

Conservative Craig Mackinlay elicited a furious response after posting a photo on Facebook of a bust of who he believed to be Claudius, who oversaw the invasion of Britain in 43 AD.

Nodding to the controversy surrounding the toppling of a statue of slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol, the South Thanet MP jokingly asked if he should "smash" the effigy.

He wrote: "Claudius invaded ancient Britain, killing thousands, enforcing slavery across his empire and doubtless held unacceptable views.

"Should I tear him down and smash him up in the hope that history can be forgotten?"

It is estimated that as many as 20% of the population of the Roman empire was made up of slaves.

Claudius, who reigned between AD 41 and 54, also expelled Rome's Jewish population from the city during his reign.

The South Thanet MP's post prompted an angry response from commenters, who branded it "inflammatory" and "divisive".

Social media user Jamie Freeman wrote: "I expect more from an MP than insensitive, inflammatory provocations.

"It is your job to listen and represent all those you represent.

"You should know better than to seek to trivialise and undermine what are entirely valid, necessary and pertinent conversations surrounding the politics of public sculpture."

Resident Holly Hunter said she was "ashamed" to be one of Mr Mackinlay's constituents, adding that his post was drawing a "false equivalence".

However, Mark Moorhouse commented: "Our history cannot be airbrushed.

"Humankind must learn from its mistakes - destroying commemorations to those who helped shape the country we live in will not create a better society because we will be pretending the very mistakes upon which we learn never happened in the first place."

This comes after Mr Mackinlay proposed using a site in South Thanet to display controversial statues from across the country for educational purposes.

He explained: "From Saddam Hussein to Karl Marx, Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi to a currently soggy Edward Colston from Bristol, all could have a new lease of life with appropriate historical context and educational focus, whether loved or despised.

"This could become a significant tourist attraction and I have identified land on the Westcliff, next to the boating pool, as a perfect underused site for such a new scheme."

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