WhatsApp message row and a cease and desist letter as campaigning in the West Berkshire local council elections turns ugly

Campaigning in the West Berkshire local council elections has turned ugly.

A string of internal WhatsApp messages sent to the Conservative group call a Green Party councillor and candidate standing against the Tory leader "a poisonous little toad".

The string of messages then jokes about violence.

The current executive member for finance, councillor Ross MacKinnon (Con, Bradfield) sent the message referring to Steve Masters (Green, Speen).

It is in reply to a post from the council leader Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen), who says she is "cross" at Green Party claims that Mr Masters works harder than she does in the ward, in a campaign leaflet.

“Did the poisonous little toad actually deliver that to your house?” Mr Mackinnon asks in the same conversation which debates how best to use or retort to campaigning claims from opposition parties.

Further messages then allude to violence, with another message from Mr MacKinnon saying: “I see we’re choosing violence today. Love to see it.”

Followed by another from 'Sarah', who says: “New to the group so I need to be more violent do I?” It is followed by a laughing emoji.

This message is then followed by: “Hi Sarah, – fellow newbie here, but Ross is my husband so I’ve had the pleasure to meet many of the wonderful people on this chat already. We don’t all choose violence here but if you ever need back up we’ve got a few characters ready to do … my husband for one.”

When approached for comment Mrs Doherty told the Newbury Weekly News: "Let me be absolutely clear: we do not, and never will, condone violence.

"The Conservatives I lead are conducting a fair and honest campaign. Our hope is that the other parties will act in the same way, and not resort to baseless political smears.

“I shan’t say more as I never comment on group business: like every other member of the group, I am bound by group rules on confidentiality.”

The Green Party leader in West Berkshire, Carolyne Culver (Green, Ridgeway), said: “I feel compelled to call this out publicly, in the interests of safeguarding and because I have no confidence in the leader of the council and no confidence in the ability of this council to deal with bullying and harassment.

“Last year the leader of the council proposed a motion about civility in public life. I urge her to act in the spirit of this motion."

She said that in recent months the chairman of West Berkshire Green Party had a complaint partially upheld regarding the behaviour of a Conservative councillor.

“This councillor was subsequently required to offer an apology to the same member of my group who has been targeted in the WhatsApp chat,” she said.

“I urge Conservative councillors and candidates in the WhatsApp group who participated in this discussion, or did not call people out when they made references to violence, to reflect upon this. I commend and thank those individuals who had the courage to come forward and speak out.”

The Conservatives in West Berkshire have also sent a cease and desist letter to the Green Party to stop them using a photo of Mrs Doherty on their campaigning leaflets in the Speen ward.

They ask for the leaflet to be removed from distribution, saying the Green Party does not have the right to use the image, which is from West Berkshire Council’s website, for political purposes.

The Greens say they are ignoring the letter.