Green councillors in Exeter are to complain to Exeter City Council’s solicitor over the behaviour of Conservative councillor Alison Sheridan. Over the weekend she joined a far-right demonstration outside a hotel at Exeter airport housing women, children and families seeking asylum. The councillors say that by wearing a councillor lanyard, she was suggesting she was a council spokesperson and has brought the Council into disrepute.
Councillor Sheridan was heard repeatedly shouting “Stop the Boats” and went on to claim that “migrants are a danger to women” and conflated migrants with grooming gangs.
Green councillor Diana Moore said:
“We respect Alison Sheridan’s right to protest but as she was wearing her councillor lanyard. This suggested she was acting on behalf of the council. We believe her actions were a breach of the councillor’s code of conduct and bring Exeter City Council into disrepute.
“Accusing ‘migrants’ of being a danger to women and conflating migrants with grooming gangs displays a shocking lack of integrity and honesty. The hotel being targeted by Councillor Sheridan and other extremists is housing women, children and families, who are now being subjected to intimidating and aggressive shouting. Councillor Sheridan’s behaviour was inflammatory and designed to cause distress to those in the hotel.”
Green councillor Lynn Wetenhall added:
“It is now hard to distinguish between the Conservatives, Reform UK and other far-right groups when it comes to the treatment of migrants and those seeking asylum. They need reminding that Exeter has long been a City of Sanctuary, welcoming those fleeing war and persecution. Branding all ‘migrants’ – meaning anyone who has moved to this country over past decades – as a danger to women is a clear example of hate speech.”
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