28 April 2011 Last updated at 08:53 ET

Tory candidate Matt Smith's Respect party Facebook slur

The Conservative Party said Matt Smith apologised unreservedly for any offence he may have caused

A Conservative Welsh assembly election candidate has been criticised for "offensive" remarks made on Facebook.

Cardiff Central candidate Matt Smith has been reprimanded by his party after comparing the left-wing Respect party to paedophiles.

Respect said the comments - made last year when he was a council candidate in Tower Hamlets, London - were "insulting and offensive".

The Labour Anglesey candidate has also faced criticism for Facebook comments.

Mr Smith, a personal injury lawyer, is also a special adviser on education policy to Nick Bourne, leader of the Conservatives in the assembly.

Responding to Mr Smith's comments, Clive Searle, national secretary of Respect, said: "Matt Smith's comments are both insulting and offensive in that they trivialise paedophilia.

"Politics should be about debating the real issues affecting our society, not throwing around puerile insults.

"Respect is very proud of our record in Tower Hamlets - especially of engaging young people in the political process.

"When so few young people see any point in voting, the Respect Party is proud to have vibrant young members making their voices and concerns heard."

A Conservative spokesman said Mr Smith's comments had been noted, which were made before his selection as an assembly candidate.

He added: "The comments were completely unacceptable and Matt has made it clear he apologises unreservedly for any offence he may have caused.

'Inexperienced candidate'

"We have issued Mr Smith with a warning as to his future conduct, which he has accepted."

The Liberal Democrats, who are defending the Cardiff Central seat, said said: "The comments speak for themselves and we would not wish to comment further other than to say that the Conservatives' choice of an inexperienced candidate prone to misjudged and immature comments will remind Conservative supporters how completely out of the race the Conservative Party are locally."

A Plaid Cymru spokeswoman said Mr Smith's comments were "thoroughly tasteless and immoral".

She added: "However, it seems that the three London parties are intent on turning this election into a mud-slinging contest in order to avoid talking about the issues that are important to the people of Wales."

Welsh Labour declined to comment.

The latest news comes after Joe Lock, who is Labour's Anglesey candidate, apologised on Thursday for postings he made last year about the former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.