Police attended a Cheshire East Council meeting after officers told the authority’s leader Cllr Nick Mannion that physical threats had been made against him.
There was heightened security at the meeting of the full council at Jodrell Bank yesterday (July 15th) with police and security officers present.
During the meeting, when questions were raised about harassment and abuse of councillors and staff, deputy leader Michael Gorman referred to threats made against Cllr Mannion.
Cllr Gorman said: “I’ve had to witness the leader this weekend, and his partner, in real distress, where he was warned by the police that there were physical threats against him.
“It’s really out of order that we have come to this, and I’ve seen the social media slot because it’s been pointed out to me, where we’ve got people going around encouraging this kind of thing, where we’ve got threats of people wanting to kick the leader with steel toecap boots, and that’s just a half of it.
“Police are monitoring social media. Let’s be clear on that.
“And let’s also be clear – police resources are precious, and we shouldn’t have to deploy our precious resources today to protect the leadership of this council.
“It’s not acceptable.”
Earlier in the meeting, Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake (Lab) urged all members to take notice of the Cheshire East Council code of conduct.
She said: “In the light of the recent murder of Ann Widdecombe, along with the threats and abuse to MPs and councillors of all political persuasion, I’m asking everyone, politicians and members of the public, to reflect on the consequences of their words and behaviour, and be more respectful to each other.”
Cllr Craig Browne then referred to a staff member being reduced to tears by “aggressive member conduct”.
Cllr Mannion said it was essential to call out all unacceptable behaviour.
“It’s what we should do,” he said.
“To see it, to ignore it, to do nothing is not acceptable.”
Cllr Gorman said: “We are going to protect our staff.
“There’s no return to the past. We have to learn the lessons of the past…
“There is no place for violence in this council, either verbal or physical, and we will root it out.”
(Story by Belinda Ryan, local democracy reporter)
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