West Berkshire Council's leader labelled as an occultist
Stories of abuse, including West Berkshire Council's leader being labelled as an occultist, are putting people off coming forward to be councillors.
But the council debate to sign up to a good behaviour mandate spiralled into mud slinging with each party blaming the other for bad mouthing.
Council leader Lynne Doherty (Con, Speen) put forward the motion, and said: “Regular abuse is an everyday occurrence. But there are elements of the hard left who try their best to dehumanise us to shut down debate.
“My own daughter even asked me why I put up with it following a photo of a me put upon by a member in this room accusing me of being occult.”
Last Thursday's full council meeting signed up to a Local Government Association mandate to abide by a code of civility in public life.
David Marsh (Green, Wash Common) said: “I was campaigning once outside Waitrose with a chap with a German accent and was told 'why don’t you eff off and go back to where you effing came from'.
“But what are the public supposed to think of politicians when the Home Secretary stands up and says things like she wants to see refugees on planes to Rwanda, and that’s what she wants for Christmas. If there is abuse and intimidation then that kind of Government rhetoric sets the tone for it.
“When a senior councillor in this chamber compares us to the Khmer Rouge – how is that treating us with courtesy and respect when we are compared to a murderous regime? What do I say to my 10-year-old? It is like us saying the Tories are a bunch of Nazis. You would call that out and you would be right to.
“We can all point the finger at each other and it’s not just the left. We need to think how the public reacts when they see and hear this kind of thing.”
West Berkshire Council only has six female councillors.
“We are trying to encourage more women into politics… but they are not coming forward due to social media abuse,” said Mrs Doherty.
“It has made me reflect on the abuse I have received over the years as a councillor.
"I am no longer prepared to stand by and let this happen. Being robust enough to handle personal attacks should not be a pre-requisite.
“I believe by having the courage to speak out that we get this behaviour stopped and stop it being normalised.
“Abuse and intimidation cross the line into dangerous territory. If the members in this room cannot abide by it we are in difficulty.”
For the Lib Dems, Jeff Brooks (Thatcham West) said he was aghast. "People think they can get away with any abuse on social media," he said.
"We have to do better at telling women that they can change people's lives and encourage them, but politics is a rough and tumble world. We must all be courteous. I get it wrong at times and kick myself afterwards. But we will call out any abuse.”
