He can't be made to stand down for bad taste remarks, only for criminal offences or non- attendance at meetings. Added problem is that being Independent he isn't answerable to a party leader who could hide him away from committee positions.
Similarly, at a picket line protest against county council cuts I witnessed the councillor with with responsibility for Adult Services say the budget / pensions problems were caused by people living too long! Sadly he was heckled and used this excuse to make his escape instead of digging himself deeper into a hole.