Rochdale councillors have backed a campaign to combat the rising levels of abuse being directed at local politicians across the country. But they also admitted the need to put their own house in order, amid claims some colleagues were guilty of bullying council staff, the public and fellow elected members.
The discussion began with Coun John Taylor, leader of the Conservative group, calling on councillors to back the Local Government Association’s Debate Not Hate campaign to improve support for local politicians facing abuse and intimidation.
The LGA says that seven in 10 councillors experienced abuse and intimidation over the last 12 months - undermining democracy; preventing elected members from representing their communities and deterring individuals from standing as candidates.
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This was reflected in the experience of councillors in Rochdale, who spoke of often having their cars vandalised, ‘funny phone calls’ and being targeted for abuse online.
Coun Taylor told the meeting: “The LGA has identified how the abuse of councillors is increasing in severity. And I believe it’s incumbent on us to do all that we can to eradicate it locally. There is no place for abuse or intimidation of elected members or candidates across this borough.”
Coun Andy Kelly, leader of the Lib Dem group, agreed all councillors could all agree with the LGA’s ‘sensible’, ‘off the peg' stance. But he said it was crucial councillors metthe same standards they were demanding of others.
“When we are in a time where we have a record number of complaints about councillor conduct when it comes to bullying, we have no place asking everybody else to sign up to a code of conduct of how we should be treated,” he said. “It’s double standards.”
He moved an amendment to the original motion calling on all political groups to sign up to an anti-bullying code of conduct, covering all interactions, whether in-person or online. This was welcomed by the Tories, who agreed it ‘strengthened’ the original proposal.
Coun Peter Winkler said councillors had to ‘look inwards’ for the reason why people seemed to believe abuse towards them was acceptable.
“It’s because we do it to each other,” he said, adding that name calling, abuse and threats were regularly used by some members.
He continued: “It’s bullying, there are bullies in this room tonight. I will name no names tonight because they know who they are. They don’t just bully other councillors, they bully staff that are scared for fear of losing their jobs, for fear of not doing what they are told when they are told. It happens.”
Coun Irene Davidson, a former council leader who was first elected in 1990, took a slightly different view, telling the meeting that matters had improved over recent years, with councillors learning to respectfully disagree.
But she admitted she was already apprehensive about the May local elections. “Personally I am dreading it in Milnrow and Newhey,” she said. “I am dreading it because we know what’s going to happen.
“It’s already started, I don’t care who they are, these faceless wonders, but they are out there. If this council can do anything to support us and the members of the public and the intimidation that will go on on the doorstep, that would be a wonderful thing.”
The motion, as amended by the Lib Dems, was passed unanimously.
Rochdale full council met at Number One Riverside on Wednesday night (March 22).
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