Protesters disrupted the meeting after leader Ian Cooper’s controversial comments.
Police were called to a council meeting. (Image: StokeonTrentLive)
A council meeting has descended into chaos as police are called to deal with protesters amid an ongoing Reform UK racism scandal. Staffordshire County Council had its first full council meeting since former leader Ian Cooper resigned over a racism row and was kicked out of Nigel Farage’s party.
The meeting was met with a protest from Stafford Campaign Against Racism and Fascism, who gathered outside before entering the public gallery. They then repeatedly chanted inside the council chamber, forcing the meeting to be suspended, StokeonTrentLive reports.
Protestors gathered outside before entering the public gallery. (Image: StokeonTrentLive)
Demonstrators targeted their chants at councillors Peter Mason and Christopher Large, both of whom faced backlash for controversial comments on social media.
Phil Corrigan, a reporter for the outlet who was at the meeting, said: “I’m covering an eventful full council meeting at Staffordshire County Council.
“Proceedings have been suspended due to anti-racism protesters interrupting the meeting by chanting from the public gallery. The police have been called.”
The meeting is expected to resume at 1pm.
This comes after the new acting leader of Staffordshire County Council, Martin Murray, has issued 580-word message this morning following the recent scandals.
He delivered the statement at the start of today’s full council meeting, addressing Reform’s “recent history”.
He said: “I want to make it absolutely clear here today, that I condemn any form of racism and hate, on any platform.
“While we may not always share the same views or beliefs with our friends, our families, and definitely our politics at times, it is imperative that we all both listen and respect those views.
“Yes, raise your concerns, but use the proper channels, we must all, and I mean everyone, stop this visceral name calling, the use of language or troupes that label whole groups.
“It’s not just offensive, it is dangerous to all serving politicians, our own recent history has shown that.”
