The Conservatives have suspended Welsh assembly member Alun Cairns as a general election candidate.
A spokesman said an investigation was pending by the party chairman, and follows a row over a comment about Italians on a BBC radio programme.
Two Labour MPs have called on Mr Cairns to step down as a candidate for the Labour-held Vale of Glamorgan seat.
Mr Cairns quit his assembly education spokesman post and apologised for his "inappropriate" comments.
He likened Italians to "greasy wops" in a radio discussion on Euro 2008.
Mr Cairns, who is a South Wales West AM, also resigned as chair of the assembly's finance committee.
The Conservatives confirmed that Mr Cairns had been suspended as a candidate yesterday "pending an investigation by the party chairman".
Earlier, Caerphilly MP Wayne David said it was "a sensible and logical thing" for Mr Cairns to step down.

BBC NEWS | Wales | Tory suspended as party candidate

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