Yahoo News Ex-acting Mayor calls for greater support after dramatic Town Hall scenes
A former acting Mayor of Liverpool said elected officials need further support amid threats made to councillors that they 'would hang' earlier this year.
As members of Liverpool Council met to discuss items on adult health and social care in February, protestors shouted how they were a “disgrace” and would be “tried for crimes of genocide and treason.” It was the most recent in a number of demonstrations to be held outside the civic building in the past 18 months.
Reflecting on the safety of councillors, Cllr Wendy Simon, former acting Mayor and Labour member for Kensington and Fairfield, said representatives can be left feeling in need of more support in the midst of threats like those seen earlier this year.
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In dramatic scenes four months ago, City Safe staff had to remove a series of protestors from the town hall, with the doors bolted and shut to the public afterward. The angry demonstration occurred as another the standards and ethics committee met in another room to discussed councillors’ safety.
Despite the rain, more than a dozen people initially gathered outside the Town Hall just before 5pm with yellow placards seen at previous demonstrations last summer. A large white banner was tied to railings outside reading “no more lies.”
The meeting was initially delayed as members of the public were admitted but asked to leave any items outside of the chamber. As discussion progressed on how the city was developing its public health annual report, one woman shouted: “We would like to know what earth you’re all living in? How dare you sit there and call yourselves councillors?”
Another person said: “You’re all criminals” while one shouted: “You work for us.” One person said the cllrs would be “tried for crimes of genocide and treason” and said “people are fully awake.”
As one protester was led out they shouted, “shame on you” and “you’re going to hang for committing treason.”
Committee chair, Cllr Nathalie Nicholas, adjourned the meeting at the time as councillors were sent to an office in the town hall, with members of the public were removed via a side door. The main doors of the town hall were closed and gates shut on the Water Street entrance.
Discussing how members can be kept safe, given committee representatives had raised matters with the police in relation to threats being made, Cllr Simon said: “Councillors do feel unsupported and they do feel the need to take action.” She made reference to “serious comments” being made citing February’s incident in the town hall.
The former Labour chief whip also highlighted how social media training would be beneficial, particularly to women, given “more abuse is sent to females” which leaves them feeling “very vulnerable at times.”
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