A senior councillor who hurled a "homophobic" insult at a political rival's mother has been cautioned by police, the Standard has learned. Deputy leader of Barking and Dagenham council Liam Smith is said to have told the 60-year-old "shut up you f***ing fat dyke" and "go back to the farmyard" after a trivial argument in the council chamber. The Labour councillor lost his temper after watching the Conservatives snatch a seat in a by-election last month. When Sue Connelly, mother of local Tory councillor Neil, got into a minor row with him at the count he verbally abused her in front of shocked onlookers. Mrs Connelly, a married grandmother of eight who is not gay, was shocked by the tirade. She said: "I was so stunned that I didn't know what to say in reply. To be spoken to like that in the council chamber in front of so many people was awful. I felt humiliated. "I am not a lesbian but I have nothing against them and that word should not be used to insult anyone. It was vicious, nasty and homophobic. He should step down or be told to go." The abuse happened after a Conservative candidate won a by-election in the Chadwell Heath ward on 3 July, claiming only the party's second seat on the Labour-controlled authority. The Tories have struggled to win seats on the council where the British National Party is now the official opposition with 12 councillors. The insult was reported to police and investigated by officers as a hate crime. Evening Standard
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Vile homophobic tirade from a leading Labour councillor
A senior councillor who hurled a "homophobic" insult at a political rival's mother has been cautioned by police, the Standard has learned. Deputy leader of Barking and Dagenham council Liam Smith is said to have told the 60-year-old "shut up you f***ing fat dyke" and "go back to the farmyard" after a trivial argument in the council chamber. The Labour councillor lost his temper after watching the Conservatives snatch a seat in a by-election last month. When Sue Connelly, mother of local Tory councillor Neil, got into a minor row with him at the count he verbally abused her in front of shocked onlookers. Mrs Connelly, a married grandmother of eight who is not gay, was shocked by the tirade. She said: "I was so stunned that I didn't know what to say in reply. To be spoken to like that in the council chamber in front of so many people was awful. I felt humiliated. "I am not a lesbian but I have nothing against them and that word should not be used to insult anyone. It was vicious, nasty and homophobic. He should step down or be told to go." The abuse happened after a Conservative candidate won a by-election in the Chadwell Heath ward on 3 July, claiming only the party's second seat on the Labour-controlled authority. The Tories have struggled to win seats on the council where the British National Party is now the official opposition with 12 councillors. The insult was reported to police and investigated by officers as a hate crime. Evening Standard
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6 comments:
Roy Oldham called me a pillock in the council chamber when I laughed at one of John Bell's jokes. I didn't complain - I could of. Speaking of which, why is there CCTV in the council chamber?
I wonder how long the CPS take with this one? Will Liam Smith be expelled from his party? Will he have the nerve to stay in his seat or do the honorable thing and call a by-election over his outburst?
The thing is West; these Labour politicians really are a breed apart. The vast majority are only interested in self gain and their own vanity. They care little of the people they were elected represent. This homophobic bigot in London reacted the way he did because the Conservative candidate removed a Labour snout from the pig swill. Your local councillor reminds me very much of Napoleon in Animal Farm. A man totally fixated on his own ego and motivated by greed.
Ohh god it been heaven since he left ,our house prices have rocketed while others have fallen,we feel sorry for you in Dukinfield.
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