[Lib Dems to the rescue I see-ed]

A senior Liberal Democrat Councillor has asked Brent Council’s Chief Executive, Gareth Daniel, to remove some “deeply offensive” remarks from Brent Council’s website.

The comments came from Councillor Ann John, Leader of Brent Council, in an official reply to a formal Council question about how residents should expect to be treated by councillors.

Councillor Daniel Brown, Deputy Leader of Brent’s Liberal Democrat Councillors, asked Brent’s Labour Executive what their stance would be if a Planning Committee member called a resident a “drunkard”, what rights of redress or complaint residents would have, and what duties councillors and the Council have in such a situation.

The Labour Leader replied, but failed to answer the question. Instead, she made an irrelevant but deliberate attack based on issues of sexuality and sexual identity.

After a swipe at Charles Kennedy MP for having suffered alcoholism, she stated: “Given that two of his putative successors have either been caught with their trousers down or are undecided about their sexual orientation I am surprised that Cllr Brown should consider the word ‘drunkard’ such a heinous accusation.”

Councillor Daniel Brown believes many sections of the community will be saddened or angered by her remarks, and has asked Brent’s Chief Executive whether they are in line with Council policies around Diversity and combating prejudice.

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