Fury as councillor called ‘bitch’ during vote at virtual council meeting

A former Labour councillor was called a ‘bitch’ after voting with the Tories at a virtual full council meeting on Wednesday (15 July) evening.

The ‘appalling’ remark was made after independent Councillor Jacqui Beswick backed a Conservative amendment to a Labour motion on the coronavirus funding.

After Councillor Beswick indicated her support, an as yet unidentified woman councillor was heard to mutter the word ‘bitch’, having presumably left her microphone on by mistake.

The West Heywood member, who left Rochdale’s Labour group last year, has lodged a complaint about the incident and is calling for the culprit to own up and say sorry.

She said: “I’m absolutely appalled, I think the member that made the comment has breached the code of conduct. 

“I would never make a comment like that towards any member of any party, at any meeting or any other time – I think it should be dealt with.”

Although Councillor Beswick believes she knows who made the remark, the incident is now subject to a council investigation.

She added: “Hopefully they will come forward and apologise. It’s unacceptable behaviour and I don’t expect to be abused just for the fact I’m voting for what I believe to be right – It’s my vote, my choice.

“To be called a bitch is just unacceptable.”

Councillor Beswick says she did not hear the remark at the time or would have raised the issue with the Mayor on the night.

The Conservative group has also lodged a complaint over what leader Councillor Ashley Dearnley has described as the ‘childish, irresponsible, immature behaviour’ of some Labour members during the meeting.

Labour has accused the oppostion of trying to whip up attention for their own gain before the facts of the matter have been established.

It was the first full meeting of Rochdale council to be held virtually, and the Tories have taken umbrage at comments made in a text chat box, during proceedings.

The messages, which were not visible to the public, have been seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Tories are understood to be particularly upset by Councillor Donna Williams telling Councillor Paolucci to ‘get real’.

And when Councillor Danny Meredith accuses Councillor Dearnley of coming out with his ‘usual lines’ she adds: “Yep lies, blaaaa blaaaaa blaaaaa.”

Councillor Rina Paolucci appealed to Mayor Billy Sheerin to take action over the remarks during the meeting, but he ruled the comments were ‘a bit near but not too far’.

The Conservatives have now lodged a formal complaint over the chatbox comments and the abuse Councillor Beswick received for voting for their amendment.

Leader Councillor Dearnley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it was ‘one of the worst examples’ of councillor conduct he had ever seen.

He said: “The person who said ‘bitch’ when Jacqui Beswick voted for our amendment, that’s appalling behaviour. I hope that person is caught and made to publicly apologise.

“What example does this give the public?  And also there were some very, very unpleasant comments going down on the chat, one accusing me of lies, another one saying ’blah, blah, blah’.

“It’s like childish behaviour, what must the public think if they could see and hear it. It’s just not acceptable.

“That should have been taken up and dealt with at the time, that’s not what it’s for, that’s not the aim of having a chat room, it’s to put questions and comments and indicate if you want to speak on something, really.”

Councillor Dearnley was also dismayed that the council would be undermined in the eyes of residents watching the live stream of the meeting on You Tube.

“I just think it’s so sad, all the good work the council does - officers and members - and then the public are subjected to this sort of thing. 

“It’s just unacceptable. It gives a very, very bad impression of the council as a whole. It’s not the way people expect us to behave - and we should be behaving.

He added: “We want people to engage with local democracy, when we see and hear that sort of behaviour it gives the wrong impression and doesn’t encourage anyone to have any kind regard for politicians when we have the childish, immature, irresponsible behaviour we saw that night.”

Labour councillor John Blundell said: “It is yet to be confirmed that this is what was actually said and directed at Jacqui Beswick. Rather than get the bottom of things like ordinary people the opposition are simply trying to whip up media attention for their own gain.

“Even if this were true it is likely because somebody didn’t realise their mic was on. I’m sure Cllr Beswick will live and what a waste of public money formally investigating this would be.”

Rochdale Council’s Labour leader Allen Brett said he did not hear the comment directed at Councillor Beswick or use the chat function so was unable to comment.

However, he added that had Councillor Beswick been verbally abused it was ‘out of order’.

A spokesman for Rochdale Council said: “We have received complaints related to councillor behaviour during last night’s [Wednesday 15 July] full council meeting. The council will ensure it takes the appropriate steps to deal with any such matters, but it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter